Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOUGHANAREE, by AGNES ITA HANRAHAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LOUGHANAREE, by                    
First Line: An' how are ye doin', och! Mrs. Magee?'
Last Line: A widow in white giv her hand!
Subject(s): Widows & Widowers


"An' how are ye doin', och! Mrs. Magee?"
"Sure, maybe 'tis rightly, eh, Mr. O'Hea?"
An' she tilted her hat,
An' tugged at her veil;
But she hid in her cart
Her duds an' her pail.
"Sure 'tis powerful well ye're lookin' this while,"
"Maybe strivin' to please," she said wid a smile.
Widow Magee tripped over the wheel;
Martin O'Hea set down his wee creel,
An' bowin', he giv her his hand!

"How many wee heifers?" asked Mr. O'Hea;
"Och! gen'rally always a couple or three:"
"'Tis a couple I'm told,
An' that, sure, is few."
"If ye'd come for to count,
Ye'd maybe have knew!"
"But 'tis terrible well ye're lookin' the day;"
"An' why wouldn't I now, an' it bloomin' in May?"
Mrs. Magee went circlin' the town;
Mr. O'Hea kep' followin' roun',
An' thinkin' av ways he had planned.

"An' how's the wee childer, eh! Mrs. Magee;
I'm strivin' to mind jist how many there be?"
"There's four little sprigs troth,
An' they, sure 's alive."
"But I heared tell the day
The number is five!"
"Och! maybe ye're reck'nin' two twins, sure, as three;"—
"Ay, or maybe ye've strayed in the count," said he:
Mrs. Magee was clippin' the tot;
Five little sprigs might seem a big lot,
An' her wantin' his farm av land!

"Ye've heifers, an' childer, ay, Mrs. Magee;
But maybe 'tis lonesome in Loughanaree;—
A man, sure, in handy
About a wee farm;—
He'd shelter ye safe, ay,
An' shield ye from harm!—
'Tis hardship the likes av ye ruckin' yer hay."—
"I'd maybe, I'm thinkin', be ruein' the day!"
Martin O'Hea went drivin' to church,
Sure that he'd not be left in the lurch—
A widow in white giv her hand!





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