Echoes of Famine

In 1845/6, there was a famine in Ireland which caused millions of deaths. Those who survived had an almost equally treacherous voyage to make to America, England and Scotland. When they arrived they were treated by their so called betters as almost sub-human and were made to live work, and raise their children in conditions which shamed even third-world countries all those years ago. Against great odds they survived and thrived, but even now some people still view those of Irish descent with great contempt!

The following was based upon the stories I was told.

Through mists of sleep my mind’s eye wanders, and forms a shadow of a glorious past,
I surge through clouds that veil my vision, to take my place in the supporting cast!
In hovels dark and damp with ills, where the coin of life had the face of death,
We sought not comforts, gold nor wealth, our only wish…. a coughless breath.
But hopes and dreams are nought but tears, when no-one ventures to wipe them dry
And let us see that land of promise, where a smile replaces the forlorn cry.

And you …Yes you…You ‘landed gentry’, your wealth built on the East-end dead,
With barbed wire souls, repelling conscience, you closed your eyes and went to bed!

And did you dream your evil burdens, would stoke the flames of tyrranic fire,
And keep us humbled ‘neath your heels, fearing ambition to aspire?
Did you really think your wells of money, could douse the raging thirst of slaves,
Were you so blind you couldn’t see, the unity built on mounting graves?
Or did you think your ways were just, bestowed on you by an enlightened God,
Chosen by the spoon of birth, to be our betters and spare no rod?

And you …Yes you…You ‘landed gentry’, your wealth built on the East-end dead,
With barbed wire souls, repelling conscience, you closed your eyes and went to bed!

And when you strolled to church on Sunday, Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Jews,
Whose ten commandments formed your bible, which god endowed your bitter views?
Love thy neighbour (if he has money), thou shalt not steal (unless needs must),
Bear no false witness (but in mammon’s service), thou shalt not covet (except in lust),
Did you pray for those that wanted or salve your conscience of satanic greed,
False use of power enriches power, true use of power leads those who need!

And you …Yes you…You ‘landed gentry’, your wealth built on the East-end dead,
With barbed wire souls, repelling conscience, you closed your eyes and went to bed!

But in those middens, fed by honour, the flower of justice spread its roots,
As winters’ frosts and black snow melted, the springtime nurtured rebellion’s shoots,
Despairing chains cast off forever, those prison walls were laid to waste,
Restored to us our fruits of labour, no more again we’ll have to taste,
Those bitter salts of hopeless weeping, those cast off crumbs of mocking bread,
Subserviance’s grime washed from our labours, on dignity we dine instead.

And you …Yes you…You ‘landed gentry’, your wealth built on the East-end dead,
With barbed wire souls, repelling conscience, you closed your eyes and went to bed!