The seventh poem in Angela Alaimo O’Donnell’s series. Click “Crossing Ireland” for the opening essay. More about Angela Alaimo O’Donnell
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ON PILGRIMAGE
Glendalough Monastery
They’re great ones for travel, the Irish Saints,
or so the map announces with its names
of mountains, towns, and old holy wells.
Brigid loved Liscannor’s Hag’s Head grandeur—
and the ground gushed in sympathy, healed all harm
long after she left to tend the fires of Kildare.
Patrick climbed the Croagh above Clew Bay
and hove a great bell past the edge
ringing in the era of snake-less Éire,
while Brendan rowed his Bantry boat from coast
to coast, baptizing pagans and blessing babies,
before setting out, at last, for America
like so many of his kin and kind
in centuries to come. How rare the saint
who homes, the blackbird hatching in his hand.
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Dave Walsh photo.com
I’m sending this beautiful poem to my pilgrimage partners from 2012 in hopes that they will “home” to it.
I’ve touched down at Shannon but I’ve never yet had the chance to explore the country. I’ll change that soon, I hope.
Thank you, Shirley, for your Good Words and for sharing the poem. When you do make your Irish Pilgrimage, you will be amazed. The Holy Wells are everywhere and are so moving. Pilgrims leave small tokens of gratitude to the Saints–photographs, coins, buttons, articles of clothing–making the stone walls ring with their unspoken prayers. The wells predate Christianity, so they’re rooted in Ireland’s pagan past as much as in her monotheistic present. The wells bespeak the Irish gift for accommodation, double-mindedness, and (therefore) poetry!
Just a brief exploration of your website tells me that you are a kindred spirit. I hope our paths cross again. Thanks for this image of the pilgrims at the well. Looks like 2015 might be my year to travel in Ireland. Such is hope. 🙂
You two should meet and if all goes according to plan, Angela, Shirley will be reading at our May AWoW Showcase, which I’m waiting to confirm as May 27.
Charles
See my response to Shirley, Angela.
CH