The Irish Heart

The Irish woman smiled as
She called for her child
With her outstretched hands
She said with her touch
I will teach you to give
She said with her words
You must believe in yourself...

Then they took her away
from the little girl
and her Irish heart ached
and the light grew dim.
The new one called mother
could not love the child so,
but beat her and chided
and tattered her soul.
she said with her eyes
The world is cruel and
you must be as well,
But the Heart of the child had been fashioned before
by a love that was stronger
than all cruelty to come.

In time she grew stronger
and was loved and gave love.
From her came her own little girl...
She called for her child
with her outstretched hands
She said with her touch
I will teach you to give
She said with her words
You must believe in yourself
But no one would dare take her away...

And yet, what of the Irish woman ?
Her place where she lies is unnamed
and unmarked, but because of her
Heart that is found in those daughters,
she is honoured and loved by a God
that those black hooded bandits never knew...