Great Grandfather's Pig

by

Hay Machine

The Macdermots of Ballycloran (1843-1847)

Anthony Trollope wrote in heart-beating detail
the story of heroic Ireland's last stand
west of the Shannon
up around Drumsna and Mohill
where the natives sank so low in depravation
the pigs were more thought-of than the peasants were
anchored to life itself by the pig
vessel of all hope
banker

The rint could not be paid
but the pig was collateral
if the crathure died you could seize the pig
if the pig died that was that

Low landlord talk then with agent
loyal for now
were you up at the fair yesterday
I was for all the good
was himself there
he was
did he sell
he didn't then

My Great Grandfather had a pig
in Castleknock
and in the 1950's
the pigman still called once a week for slops
I don't know how my forefathers and foremothers
survived the famine
I only heard about the pig in the family
yesterday
and about County Leitrim
as though it was yesterday
and it's far from pigs you and I were raised
or was it

NEXT?
Why don't you look at I'll always be a Millstreet man
by: Francis Duggan
from: Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia

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