St. Patrick's Day; Ireland

Today I am thinking about St. Patrick's Day, and the upcoming celebration of my Irish heritage. I was talking with my Irish sister, Maureen, this morning and she said that, growing up, there were only two saints that she really liked: St. Patrick, and St. Francis who loved animals and the environment, and lived a simple life. I agree with her, and how wonderful to have both these saints on the "world's stage" this week at the same time.
Many years ago, I took a trip to Ireland with my mother, niece and sister, Marueen and one of the special moments that I remember, was walking through the woods to view the Lake Isle of Innisfree that William ButlerYeats made famous in his poem, "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." What was particularly special to me was that my sister Maureen quoted this entire poem from memory while we overlooked the island of Innisfree....a special Irish moment in time. For any who might not know this poem, it has the same theme as "Daffodils" quoted by me earlier....that when we are away from these special views and places, the memory of them will sustain us, and nurture our soul. So, once again, I offer a poem on this BLOG...

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfee
And a small cabin built there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavement grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
                                                        William Butler Yeats

Ah, who couldn't love the line, "And I shall find some peace there; for peace comes dropping slow." Certainly not a true Irishman!

* Though the picture above is not one taken in Ireland, it looks much like many of the green fields we saw there. In fact, it is a picture of farmland here in the midwest after spring planting and the first signs of growth...lovely sight wherever it is!