Dear Paddy or Bud, Carl or Ken,
You were always our parents favourite now and then,
They stayed up with you when I was sent to bed,
Here’s my bed time story, they preferred you instead.
You took the spotlight at all our parties
All-Irelands, Birthdays, Wakes
As I pledged at my confirmation
They were laughing at my mistakes.
In the back of the Church I was watching
And telling me never to falter
The Bishop raised a chalice
And drank to you up at the altar.
I was too young to hang around you,
You skipped school to go down the canal,
Or invited to all the free houses
No problem for everyone’s pal.
In shady late night places
When I was held home on curfew
You were finding girls’ intimate spaces
As they fell over themselves for you.
The Bars and the clubs and Off-Licences
Loved how you made money flow
When you bought for the under-age drinkers
They pretended they didn’t know.
But Boy as a drunk you were vicious,
Shoot your mouth off with comments that cut
Then you kicked and went punching and spitting
And gave someone your trademark head-butt.
Up in court the Judge forgave your impact
Your responsibility was diminished
So the Gardaí gave up on pursuing you
The long arm of the Law reached its limit.
No surprise that your marriage broke up
Like the heart of a home built on drink
Both your kids now are fond of a sup
Was it hitting their mother, do you think?
I have lived in your shadow, it’s true
When I grow up I just want to be you,
Your lessons I’ve learned and applied
Including the last Suicide.
Dear Paddy or Bud, Carl or Ken,
ReplyDeleteYou were always our parents favourite now and then,
They stayed up with you when I was sent to bed,
Here’s my bed time story, they preferred you instead.
You took the spotlight at all our parties
All-Irelands, Birthdays, Wakes
As I pledged at my confirmation
They were laughing at my mistakes.
In the back of the Church I was watching
And telling me never to falter
The Bishop raised a chalice
And drank to you up at the altar.
I was too young to hang around you,
You skipped school to go down the canal,
Or invited to all the free houses
No problem for everyone’s pal.
In shady late night places
When I was held home on curfew
You were finding girls’ intimate spaces
As they fell over themselves for you.
The Bars and the clubs and Off-Licences
Loved how you made money flow
When you bought for the under-age drinkers
They pretended they didn’t know.
But Boy as a drunk you were vicious,
Shoot your mouth off with comments that cut
Then you kicked and went punching and spitting
And gave someone your trademark head-butt.
Up in court the Judge forgave your impact
Your responsibility was diminished
So the Gardaí gave up on pursuing you
The long arm of the Law reached its limit.
No surprise that your marriage broke up
Like the heart of a home built on drink
Both your kids now are fond of a sup
Was it hitting their mother, do you think?
I have lived in your shadow, it’s true
When I grow up I just want to be you,
Your lessons I’ve learned and applied
Including the last Suicide.