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THE EMIGRANT'S LETTER (Percy French) Dear Danny, I'm taking the pen in my hand, To tell you we're just out of sight of the land. In the grand Allen liner I'm sailing in style, But I'm sailing away from the Emerald Isle. And a long sort of sigh seemed to come from us all, When the waves hit the last bit of auld Donegal. Ah, it's well to be you that is taking your tay, [tea] Where they're cutting the corn in Creeslough today. There's a woman on board who knows Katie by sight, And we talked of auld times 'til they put out the light. I'm to meet the good woman tomorrow on deck, And we'll talk about Katie from here to Quebec. I know I'm no match for her, no not the least, With her house and two cows, and her brother a priest, But the woman declares Katie's heart's on the say, [sea] While mine's with the reapers in Creeslough today. Ah, goodbye to you, Danny. No more's to be said, And I think the salt water's got into my head, For it drips from my eyes when I call to my mind The friends and the colleagues I'm leaving behind. But still she might wait. When I bade her goodbye, There was just the least trace of a tear in her eye, And a brake in her voice when she said, "You might stay, But, please God, you'll return to auld Creeslough someday." I spoke to the captain. he won't turn her round. And if I swam back, I'd be apt to be drowned. So here I must stay. oh, I've no cause to fret. The dinner was what you might call a banquet. But though it was sumptuous, I'd swap the whole lot For the ould wooden spoon and the stir-about pot, And sweet Katie Farrell a-wettin' the tay Where they're cuttin' the corn in Creeslough the day. If Katie is courted by Patsy or Mick, Put a word in for me, with a lump of a stick. Don't kill Patsy outright. he has no sort of chance. But Mickey's a rogue you might murder at once. For Katie might think as the longer she waits A boy in the hand is worth two in the States, And she'll promise to honour, to love and obey, Some robber that's roamin' round Creeslough the day. (Creeslough, pronounced Creeshla.) @Irish @emigrate @homesick filename[ EMIGRLET JD |
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