Frankie McCourt. Hell come back in a few years with a new suit and
fat on his bones like any Yank and a lovely girl with white teeth hangin
from his arm.
Mam says,Ah, no, Pa, ah, no, and they take her inside and comfort
her with a drop of sherry from Spain.
Its late in the day when the Irish Oak sails from Cork, past Kinsale and
Cape Clear, and dark when lights twinkle on Mizen Head, the last of
Ireland Ill see for God knows how long.
Surely I should have stayed, taken the post office examination,
climbed in the world. I could have brought in enough money for
Michael and Alphie to go to school with proper shoes and bellies well
filled.We could have moved from the lane to a street or even an avenue
where houses have gardens. I should have taken that examination and
Mam would never again have to empty the chamber pots of Mr. Sliney
or anyone else.
Its too late now. Im on the ship and there goes Ireland into the
night and its foolish to be standing on this deck looking back and
thinking of my family and Limerick and Malachy and my father in
England and even more foolish that songs are going through my head
Roddy McCorley goes to die and Mam gasping Oh the days of the
Kerry dancing with poor Mr. Clohessy hacking away in the bed and
now I want Ireland back at least I had Mam and my brothers and Aunt
Aggie bad as she was and Uncle Pa, standing me my first pint, and my
bladder is near my eye and heres a priest standing by me on the deck
and you can see hes curious.
Hes a Limerickman but he has an American accent from his years
in Los Angeles. He knows how it is to leave Ireland, did it himself and
never got over it.You live in Los Angeles with sun and palm trees day
in day out and you ask God if theres any chance He could give you one
soft rainy Limerick day.
The priest sits beside me at the table of the First Officer, who tells
us ships orders have been changed and instead of sailing to New York
were bound for Montreal.
Three days out and orders are changed again.We are going to New
York after all.
Three American passengers complain,Goddam Irish.Cant they get
it straight?
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