suddenly a flow of tears ran down my face
all I did was taste an Irish potato I cooked
when an ethereal voice drifted my way tonight
"I am your great-grandfather, James Curtin
I always wondered what happened after I left
the shores of my Emerald Isle birthplace
I grew up with tearful farewells to many
some dear ones starved in the Great Famine
others stood on ships' decks trying not to cry
I watched many lose their homes and give up
at 17 I too boarded a lonely ship for Amerikay
with me promise to help in their Civil War
and they in turn promised to give me a better life
I met my Irish born lass Ellen Sullivan
as I labored as an Erie Canal worker
we married and were blessed with 13 children
some I had to carry away in a wee casket
all part of God's plan they told me mind
me heart buried me tears as i had
to be the strong one to my brood and Ellen
we settled in Ohio, dear Ireland in our minds
learning English was difficult yet necessary
many had ridiculed our Gaelic tongue
we refused our children to learn any native words
we rarely mentioned the pains of our losses
better our young not have any images of starvation
me children dreamed of visits to Irish shores
yet none were rich enough to buy a ticket
I am sure glad to know you travelled to my homeland
I smile with delight seeing you carry the name Ireland
I was there with you in Ohio as you found our graves
your tears on this St. Paddy's Day I'll share with all
as we watch you from Tir Na Nog with gratitude
our heartfelt thanks that you take time to remember us
go forward now and always show emotions with pride
I must go now and will reunite at a mysterious time"
just then a breeze drifted by the living room curtains
I allowed more tears to run down my already wet face
thankful for corned beef, cabbage, carrots, turnips...
and ever so grateful for my open heart to my ancestors
a warm sunny feeling is here now and I cry with joy
seeing my James Curtin only with the dreams of my mind
he is a ruddy faced lad running freely in fields of shamrocks
and one fine day I will be jumping with joy alongside him...
In loving memory to all those lost in the 1840's Great Famine
dedicated to all survivors, flowing in their descendants like me
and I proudly carry their beloved country's name of Ireland
march 17, 2006...tears of green, orange, red, white, & blue
I am John Charles, named for 3 of my great-grandfathers
an 1847 newspaper depiction of the
tragic starvation in Skibbereen, Cork, Ireland
they are our ancestors...
My maternal great~grandmother, Bridget Cecilia Curtin, first generation American, daughter of Ellen and James, she married Charles Michael Williams, son of Native Shawnee Mahala and her Irish Quaker immigrant husband Michael Williams...
