At the Wall and Keogh

by Julie Peterson Freeman

Every morning in Dublin at the Wall and Keogh cafe

Finn sips dark black coffee at the bar overlooking the quai

Silent earphones a blazin’ to Finn’s intellect abound

The notes fly past at lighting speed like Sean O’Malley’s hound

Siobhán is off in the corner on her sofa with a book

Hiding from the rest of the world in her secret little nook 

Foam tops her mug while white cream stays resting on her face

‘Tis a very funny sight, a mustache lip, on a countenance of grace

Finn smiles at her and she knows why, he finds her wild and winsome

Finn is bright, an all-knowing look, upon his face so handsome

Finn adores a presto tempo; it’s a veritable autobahn race

Siobhán fancies memorable melodies at an emotive slower pace 

Finn prefers a flat roof while she looks up to spires

Yet sometimes they come together; it’s a connection they’ve acquired

Finn finds his courage, ambling over to Siobhán’s nook

He sits right down beside her and she puts down her book 

Siobhán is a singer, Finn’s a shy and learned boy

She smiles at Finn, then looks at him, right straight in the eye

She’s not afraid to sing this song to end this Gaelic rhyme

For Siobhán is spontaneous and now’s the perfect time.

Mailí San Seóirse by Donal O’Sullivan

I’m a sprite from the deluge, afloat on the lake 
A sprite that is banished from mountain and brake 
With nets on each side in which thousands have strove 
A net full of magic, a net full of love.

Is mé an síogaí ón ndíleann
Ar bhruach loch’ a’ snámh,
Is mé an síogaí ga mo dhíbirt
Ó Ghaillimh’s gach áit.
Bíonn lion ar gach taobh dhíom
Chuir na mílte chun báis,
Líon a mbíonn síothbhraíocht
Is lion a mbíonn grá:

Dedicated to my music pal, Roger Gefvert