St Kevin (the name Kevin means 'Fair Begotten') is reputed to have been at prayer one day when a blackbird nested in his hand and laid its eggs. The Saint maintained his attitude until the young had fled the nest.
I wrote this about a child called Kevin who was found living in a chicken shed some years ago in my local area. He was around seven when discovered.
No blackbird to nest in your claw-hand,
Or fledge a brood strange and sun-shunned
As you, Kevin.
You never learned to play.
No holy day or weekend when your hair
Was combed and shone, no shoes to wear,
No birthday card or kiss goodnight.
You never learned to write your name.
No pattern days to mark your turn from
Childish things or songs to sing about
Glory in the wide world
And in the livelong day.
At cock-crow and at roosting
All feathered air, all sunlight
Lit the stony ground
As prayer to a God unknown to you.
And still the mercy is
- the mercy is,
You never learned to Pray.
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Written by gutterkitty (362 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
| I love the descriptions in this ("all feathered air"), simple yet effective. It reads very nicely as well, with a slow and thoughtful pace. Suits the subject matter I feel, as you are namely musing. Also like the way you weaved the bird and the religious metaphors together. However, I feel the end ruins it a little bit, by working your own religious opinion into what was previously a more disconnected piece. For me it seems imposing and doesn't sit well. |
Written by hutmaster (134 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
Thank you GK. I fail to see, however, what religious opinion I have transmitted in this.
I presume you mean the final verse.
This was meant to show the hopelessness of the child's situation. Prayer has of course a religious connotation but my intention was mainly to compare this boy's situation with the legend of St Kevin - that the power of prayer in this circumstance would have, in my opinion, exacerbated the child's suffering rather than have alleviated it.
The whole affair was totally man-made and I can assure you that the last verse, far from religious, is more a plea from a Humanitarian viewpoint.
Glad you took time to read and comment on this. Much appreciated.
hm |
Well well well...
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
What a beautiful and engaging tale, Hutmaster, and so adeptly told with it. Though I pride myself on my Irishness, I had never heard of that legend of Kevin. So astute of you to adapt it to a real life situation. Well done.
In Galway in my youth I recall we had a ' St Kevin's Well ' down by the bourne not too far away from our 'butty' or farmhouse. They used to meet there on his feast day to ' dress the well ' with flowers. Irritatingly there was nothing in it as far as I could ascertain; but it was one of those ' thin places ' of Gaelic legend that Josie mentioned over on Non Fiction.
Again thank you for sharing this.
Slan! |
Written by hutmaster (134 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
Thank you Gerard. If you visit here www.feralchildren.com/ you will find a link to the boy's story. Kevin Halfpenny is/was his name - a memorable name for a terrible story I think.
Heaney's poem 'Bye Child' (inevitably much superior to mine, alas) can also be found there.
I remember hearing this story many years ago as he 'lived' only about six miles from where I do.
St Kevin spent most of his saintly time at Glencolumbkille, I believe.
'Dressing the well' I love that. I live in St Patrick's Country - Co Down and as children we used to 'dress the windowsills' on May day with wildflowers in honour of Mary - May Altars they were called.
Thanks again for the comments and for reminding me of those days.
hm |
Written by Fledermaus (3321 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
Ah yes, he rung a bell, but I wasn't sure anymore: It's the guy who founded the monastery at Glendalough eh? One of the Céli Dé, or otherwise the one who inspired them I think. Didn't he throw a girl into of nettles or some other uncomfortable place because she was trying to seduce him while he was praying? Strange guy, but it made him a saint though...
Nice poem. |
Written by gutterkitty (362 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
I understand that you didn't mean to apply your beliefs to the last stanza, but in my opinion you did- many would say that his life would have improved if he had known God and been able to pray. To me it sticks out in a piece which is otherwise objective.
I still think it's a very well-written piece, just wanted to let you know my view. |
Written by hutmaster (134 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
I'm afraid I still contend that I didn't 'apply' any beliefs to that last stanza, GK. For one thing I do not pray and thus would be insincere and dishonest in exhorting others to do so. I agree that many would see prayer as a blessing for one is such a position but my point was the direct opposite and feel that such imprecations, while soothing the psyche, would not have released him from his incarceration.
I specifically say that the 'mercy' was that the boy had no faith system on which to build castles in the air. If anything I would suggest that the last verse is anti-religious in its debunking of prayer as a means of escape from his torture.
I guess that, in this sense, the last stanza is open to your accusation of being less than subjective but, as I have no belief in prayer it would be impossible to work my 'religious opinion' into it.
But I do value, and respect, your interpretation of the poem. Your reading of it must be your own and as writers I think we must allow readers to take what they will from our work - otherwise why post.
It is always enlightening to read what others' make of a piece and I thank you again for the opinion.
hm |
Written by Phil (6738 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
Just goes to show - I liked the way this finished and I even read it in the way you said it was intended. Quite a novelty for me.
Liked it very much.
Phil. |
Written by hutmaster (134 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
Good to hear from you Phil and glad that you liked this.
A true tale which was quite a scandal in these parts all those years ago.
hm |
Written by Fledermaus (3321 comments posted) 6th December 2007 |
| Arg. Should learn to read introductions properly. I thought this was about Saint Kevin. Sorry for that. Still good poem and the mistake clearly shows it's open for interpretation. |
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