I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen by Kate McCarroll Moore Walking the streets of Dublin, I see my grandfather everywhere The shock of white hair and the prominent chin The eyes that twinkle like a cliché There he sits in Kennedy’s and at the bus stop next to Oscar Wilde He’s the doorman in silk top hat and tails opening the taxi door outside the Merrion Arms He’s playing fiddle on the steps of St. Ann’s I am here in this place his father left Driven out by famine, the terrible hunger Propelled by hope, the great hunger He came across the ocean, my grandfather’s father Packed in steerage for a month with the dead and the dying So that my grandfather could be born And sit in his house drinking tea, spooning marmalade Giving life to my father who gave life to me So that I could make a one day voyage in business class Watching movies, sharing a three course meal Knowing nothing of sacrifice and suffering Still hungry, longing for home
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Kate McCarroll Moore is a collector of stories, discarded objects, and memories. She is a mentor teacher, book coach, and staff developer who served three terms as Poet Laureate for the City of San Ramon. She is the author of the poetry collections Avians of Mourning and Alphapoetica: A Poetry Primer for the Everyday Poet. She is also the author of the children’s novels Elinormal and New Girl: The Further Adventures of Elinormal. Most days you can find her reading, writing and painting in her garden. You can also find her on twitter @wordcrazy, or on Instagram as katemccarrollmoore.
