A poem for Joan to mark 100th year
A poem for Joan McMahon, who celebrated her 100th birthday recently.
Your earliest memory of dancing so free
On pebbles in Greystones close by the sea
Your mother observing surrounded by friends
Enjoying their picnic on rugs on the strand
With your pudding-bowl haircut you envied so much
Little brother’s gold curls as he sat on Ma’s lap
You hid by rose bushes where you cuddled your kitten
And slept in the coop with baby chicks in your mittens
Your Poppa made sure you had schooling at home
You boxed, rode fine horses and played rugby with vigour
You painted dolls’ face to raise funds for the Ring
You danced in the Gaiety with grace and decorum
Taunted and teased by your two brothers bold
You got your revenge singing “Boolavogue”
When stern-faced Poppa flicked you a half crown
Your misty eye Ma allowed a faint smile
With that half crown you purchased a dozen Fry’s bars
Their dark beauty and cream centres drove the brothers quite crazy
Not a fleck nor a nibble did you offer those boys
The battle of sexes was won that evening
Those bold boys admitted you at last to their gang
Then all three of you raced with horse and cart
With Persian rug flying halfmast for the sport
Shooting bang bang with caps and scaring old folk
The Garda he dealt you a clip on each ear
With a nod to The General whose nose twitched in despair
Three little divils – you were without fear
The Terrors of Ashgrove the Murphys Hear Hear
So kind and embracing you welcomed all comers
From the pregnant young traveller in cold soaking tent
To the refugees fleeing from defeat in the East
You offered safehaven and return to good health
Your hubby you lost way too young
And what did you do then widowed and broke
Your Poppa stepped in and you carried on
You embraced your new life with vision and hope
You wrote sweet stories illustrated uniquely
Your children and grandchildren adored these creations
You sang with the Choir composed hymns so devout
You fought with a passion to protect Human Life
You journeyed with dear friends to Sacred sites
And travelled North into danger to pray for Peace
Your beauty remains and shines through your smile
You are who you are both inside and out, loving and kind, funny and child-like, spiritual and feisty – my beloved Mammy.
All my love forever, Alison