Just a Fishing Trip

One warm summer's evening
on the road to Glencar,
the boys were a-drinking
in Matt Foley's bar,
when the doors swung asunder
and a stranger stepped through.
Tormented and hassled,
his face a pale hue,
He pleaded for whiskey
said, "please make it quick!"
His hand all a-shaking
when reaching for it,
having downed it in one
he called out again,
"Another please, landlord,
to help ease the pain.
For a sorrowful tail
I have to tell
Of a vision that's set me
a straight course to hell."

So those who were gathered
lent him their ears
as the stranger began
to relay his fears,
in an accent of English
with eyes staring wild
His mouth all a-tremble
he sniffed like a child.
"I'll tell you right now
while I still have the breath,
because pretty soon
I'll be facing my death.
It's the gospel my friends
I can assure you of this,
I only came here
to catch a few fish.
And I wish no evil
on any good man,
In fact I will always
help out if I can.
But this evening while travelling
the shores of Lough Gill,
when I halted my car
at the foot of a hill,
it was there while I searched
for a suitable place,
that I saw a fine woman
caught in the sun's rays.
Naked was she
not a trace of her clothes
as she sat on a jetty
dabbling her toes.

Through the cool and the calm
that spreads with the mist,
the air that she sang
drifted sweet from her lips.
While the sun set behind her
I witnessed her there,
carefully tending
her silky black hair.
Then, all of a sudden
with a terrible scream,
she twisted around
and stared straight at me.
And though Celtic tradition
is not of my own,
I know the power
of that cold Banshee's comb.
The instant I saw it
aimed at my head
I knew before long
I would be dead.
So grant one last wish
to a poor English prod,
Who truly believes
the forgiveness of God,
and say a quick prayer, lads
and make it for me
to rescue my soul
from the evil Banshee."

The air it was thick
with blessings and gloom
When Marie O'Riordan
burst into the room,
her face was all flushed,
she was fit to be tied,
the fury she felt
burnt clear in her eyes
"What brings you here
all on your own?"
The barman asked
in a warm friendly tone,
"Where is himself?
Not ailing is he?"
Marie shook her head.
"He's away in Tralee.
And no worse a time
could he have chose
to take off on business
and leave me alone,
for such a cruel day
there never has been,
you would not believe
what's happened to me.

I was there in the bathroom
taking a shower,
when out went the lights
and off went the power.
The pump wouldn't work,
no water flowed through,
and me lathered up
in Organic's shampoo.
Like the cream on your Guinness,
all frothy and wet,
I stood there not knowing
what to do next.
Then I thought of the lake
just yards from my door,
so I skipped out the back
and onto it's shore.

The twilight was golden.
The air it hung still.
The waters were magic
to me in Lough Gill.
So, once I had washed
my whole body clean,
I sat on the jetty
to savour the scene.
The soft atmosphere
soon improved on my mood,
'til I found myself humming
some ditty tune.
It was there while I sat
squeezing my hair,
That I sensed I was caught
in somebody's stare.
I shot my head round
to the path from the road,
and hid behind reeds
I spotted that toad.
I let out a wail,
and picked up a stick,
to use as a flail.
But that durty fecker
who'd ogled me bum,
spun on his heels
and started to run.
The day was near gone,
the light it was dim,
so I had no chance
to recognise him.
But, if ever I did, boys,
I'd rip him apart
And crush the life's blood
from his perverted heart."

When Marie had finished
a chill filled the place.
All eyes were fixed
on the Englishman's face,
who cleared his throat
and croakily said,
With large beads of sweat
dripping down his forehead,
"I told you the truth, lads,
I'll swear on the book
I only intended
to dangle me hook."

Joe Flyn gave a smile
as he tapped out his pipe
(the wisest of drinkers
assembled that night),
said, "The Banshee or Marie,
what's in a name?
'Twould seem true to me
the curse is the same."

?Copyright Paul Holmes 2001