Prayer of the Traveller Child

When I go to bed at night,
I say a silent prayer,
For Tom and John and Patrick
And auld daddy on the chair.

Auld daddy is a traveller,
He's travelled many ways,
By wagon, horse and trailer,
He's told me about those days.

He's seen the hills and rivers,
Of Ireland north and south.
He's camped near ruins and cities,
When nobody's put him out.

He says no one wants the travellers now,
They try with all their might,
To throw them off the roadside,
And put them on a site.

I want to see the hedgerows,
The hawthorn and the briar,
The meadows full of wildflower,
And hear the songbird's choir.

So when I go to bed at night,
That hopeful prayer I say,
That what I dreamed for my auld dad,
Will all come true some day.

Mary Carmody (Aged 8) St. Mary's N.S. Tallaght, Dublin.

I think this is extraordinarily eloquent, touching, and truthful. I came across this when I was clearing out my late brother's place a few months back - he'd clearly thought so too. Anyway I just found it again now, so I thought I'd pass it on here, and make sure it won't get lost again. (The tune that fits it so well it was maybe written with it in mind is Tramps and Hawkers.)

It's a poem which was one of a number picked out by Telecom Eireann a few years back from thousands submitted by children, and sent out as part of the launch of The Ark … A Cultural Centre for Children" in Dublin a few years ago.