The Light that Shines

The Light that Shines

The emerald isle she calls me

there’s an aching in my heart

that plays on intuition

and begs me to depart.

Over land and over seas

old stories of my soul

remembering the tails

and youthful travel goals.

And the light that shines from her eyes

can heal the ravaged soul

that’s lost upon the Irish seas

and lost upon the moors.

We over-landers will come home

with essence to be free

take back the lands they stole

a place for you and me.

When Vikings came to conquer

assailed our peaceful shores

the ground that was our baile

rose up to greet their wars.

Battles lost and battles won

our warriors to the fore

freedom won at Clontarf

no servitude no more.

And the light that shines from her eyes

can heal the ravaged soul

that’s lost upon the Irish seas

and lost upon the moors.

We over-landers will come home

with essence to be free

take back the lands they stole

a place for you and me.

She claims my spark with whispers

Éire álainn her name

this lonely over-lander

my Irish heart she claims.

When glass of time had broken

assailed with Cromwell’s chains

we fought them all and survived

but deep scars etched remain.

And the light that shines from her eyes

can heal the ravaged soul

that’s lost upon the Irish seas

and lost upon the moors.

We over-landers will come home

with essence to be free

take back the lands they stole

a place for you and me.

Time sailed from grief to grief

led to our sovereignty

quickly turned into our blood

a sorrowful memory.

Days and nights of savaged past

have bloomed to modern day

Europe casts its chains again

our people in dismay.

And the light that shines from her eyes

can heal the ravaged soul

that’s lost upon the Irish seas

and lost upon the moors.

We over-landers will come home

with essence to be free

take back the lands they stole

a place for you and me.

Hey!

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About this Poem: As an Irish Canadian, I have a deep longing connection for my Irish roots. I feel the pain of the past and the pain of today and the home of my clan which I fear I’ll never see. But I am there in spirit.

“baile is Irish for “Home”

“Éire álainn” is Irish for “Ireland the beautiful”

Clontarf is in reference to “The Battle of Clontarf”. (See below)

The Battle of Clontarf (Irish: Cath Chluain Tarbh) took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland. It pitted an army led by Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, against a Norse-Irish alliance comprising the forces of Sigtrygg Silkbeard, King of Dublin; Máel Mórda mac Murchada, King of Leinster; and a Viking army from abroad led by Sigurd of Orkney and Brodir of Mann. It lasted from sunrise to sunset, and ended in a rout of the Viking and Leinster armies.

It is estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 men were killed in the battle, including most of the leaders. Although Brian's forces were victorious, Brian himself was killed, as were his son Murchad and his grandson Toirdelbach. Leinster king Máel Mórda and Viking leaders Sigurd and Brodir were also slain. After the battle, the power of the Vikings and the Kingdom of Dublin was largely broken.

The battle was an important event in Irish history and is recorded in both Irish and Norse chronicles. In Ireland, the battle came to be seen as an event that freed the Irish from foreign domination, and Brian was hailed as a national hero.