Last Wish Copyright © Elisabeth Rowe 2010

Before I go down to the ferryman
All set for the final journey
I’ll find me a Cork or Kerry man
From Droom or Ballyvourney

He’ll be lean as an Irish wolfhound
With eyes of emerald green
Rugged as Boggaragh Mountains
Salty as Skibbereen

Smooth as a pint of Guinness
He’ll flatter in fluent blarney
He’ll kiss me with his leprechaun lips
From Dingle to Killarney

To the saucy skip of his fiddle
I’ll be dancing till I’m giddy
He’ll set my feet a-jigging from
Kishneam to Ringaskiddy

And when I need to rest my legs
He’ll pour the best poteen
Distilled by a Catholic brother
By the road to Carrigaline

He’ll whisper tales in the old tongue
To make me tired and teary
Feeding the fire with turves of peat
From Sneem and Ballymakeery

I long to be wild and feckless once
Before the final tally
Lord, send me a Cork or Kerry man
From Crookstown or Stradbally

And over the bright green hills we’ll dance
And over the golden sands
With the soft mist in our eyes, Lord,
And a shamrock in our hands