On my holidays, I met friendly people all over Ireland, except on one small island famous for its hillforts. Guides were busy stealing eachother's customers and squeezing money out of tourists.
The smallest island ever
Visited in my short life
Ironic name: Inis Mor
Brochures tell us of its rocks
Romantically sad isle
Full of stories, proud people
But what I saw was just stone
Pebble in the Atlantic
Full of sly and greedy men
Seven hillforts on a rock
Barren and uninteresting
It's not Vikings you feared
Nor English or invaders
Instead you feared eachother
And with good reason I guess
For if you treat the strangers
Visitors who came in peace
As cows or goats and cattle
How do you treat your neighbours?
You stole their cows, and today?
You steal foreign customers
Your ancestors were hungry
But you just see dollar signs
Hide in your hillfort, ah scrooge!
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Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3133 comments posted) 19th February 2007 |
Poems are often a way of concetrating expression and I think you could have gone the other way with this and fleshed it out for non-fiction. I think there is more to tell. It feels as if it wanted to be narrative rather than a poem but then what do I know
Liked the content,though
J |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 19th February 2007 |
Thanks BBS.
I think you're right it would do better as non-fiction... I was watching a documentary about the Aran islands this morning and I suddenly rembered it. They're often portraying them as such a romantic place, one of THE places in Ireland... Quite a contrast to how I experienced them. |
Inishmore
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 19th February 2007 |
It has been interesting reading the history of Inishmore:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aran_Isles It speaks of the changing characters of the people who have moved onto this Isle. You speak of the latest kind, above. You must add them to wikpaedia please, because they end saying that the fourth type of people to arrive on this island came for spiritual reasons. You need to mention that either these people have discarded their religious beliefs in favour of love of money, or perhaps new ones have now moved in. It mentions that today, unlike formerly, tourists and visitors are under-represented by writers of literature. Now, there you are Fledermaus - you have an open page on which to let it all out! |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 19th February 2007 |
Thanks Josie. I read the article. It seems to present the same overly romantic view from the folders. The guys I'm talking about though claimed to be natives. And since there's nothing of interest for foreign invaders there, and they treated eachother in such a way, I asume the hillforts must have been built as a protection against eachother. Not at all the close island community from the commercials...  |
Written by Phil (6383 comments posted) 19th February 2007 |
Quite enjoyed this Fledermaus, but I think I agree with BBS, there's a non-fiction piece in here somewhere. On another note: isn't it the same at all toutist attractions?
Phil. |
Written by Talisker (1300 comments posted) 19th February 2007 |
There's a nice song about Inishfree, but Inishmore? Am I right in saying its the Arran Islands? Anyway, interesting, but a bit clumsy, Batty.
Oli  |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 20th February 2007 |
Thanks Phil and Oli.
Phil: I think you're right, but over there it was too obvious. They seemed to dispise tourists, but they loved their money...
Oli: Arran islands indeed. Atlantic should have been Galway Bay. The scenery is pretty, but there are probably hundreds of such islands around Ireland and I guess that most of them are more welcoming.
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