A Few Days in Sligo

I wish I was in Sligo
Where roots got lost by force
Only a few days in Sligo
I want to dig for the hidden roots

But Sligo is far I cannot get there
For others the first prize is a journey
In vain I wait for the lottery winning
Sooner I die like Dad entirely quiet

At least I reached Dublin City
In every Paddy I saw my father’s substitute
Not only “the girls are so pretty” there
Maybe the river Liffey is giving me a berth

Today I feel myself sick and old
A journey to Sligo would be a fountain of youth
But Germany is far away and cold
Now heavy storms beat the ocean

I wish I was in Sligo
Only a few days in Sligo
I want to take roots

© Sonja Nic Rafferty ~ January 2000