Wears St. Patricks Academy
school uniform.
Striped tie, pen in pocket,
wool socks, strong leather boots.
Nordic good looks,
a confident gaze.
Soon his mother
will ask him,
the eldest, to find a job.
They are hungry
and help is needed on the farm.
He must leave behind his beloved
Latin, Literature, and Mathematics.
Take to the road on his bicycle,
sell insurance.
On the mountain
he will see a girl
pumping up her bike,
fix the puncture
and fall in love with her.
Pursue her till she says yes.
He will build a house nearby.
His family will love her.
I will be the last born,
and go to St. Patricks
to be taught by his teacher,
‘Rusty’ Ryan.
They will meet one day.
‘Rusty’ will say:
Your daughter is wild, never does homework.
My father with his confident gaze will ask me:
Why?
Angela McCabe
