L'aura del Campo

Daylight robbery (Dew Drop Inn #8) [22]

Note that this poem uses present tense as if written in 1850.

Daylight robbery

In Donegal—in Dingle
in t' jingle—of t' keys
of t' jails—when t' English
tax t' Irish—who can't see

out small windows—sooty walls
of cold damp stone—past t' reeds
at crosses—of their children
newly planted—sprung like weeds

from fevers—from starvation
while t' nobles—spread their ass's
on benches—bought with taxes
on each window—filled with glass,

while t' Irish—robbed of sunlight
in t' darkness—bow with beads.
For tis legal—if not moral
that t' wealthy—hide dark deeds.

In Ireland—on yr journeys
heed t' wailing—if you please.
In Limerick—in Listowel
light a candle—pray on knees.

© Kåre Enga [174.22] (8.april.2017)

Dew Drop Inn prompt was "something illegal" but I chose to think of what was legal but not moral. Around 1690, windows were taxed. This poem came about after a talk with my friend Michele Mulligan.