{"id":1012,"date":"2012-07-31T01:18:25","date_gmt":"2012-07-31T01:18:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=1012"},"modified":"2014-10-31T01:19:59","modified_gmt":"2014-10-31T01:19:59","slug":"no-more-the-hammer-strikes-the-anvil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/no-more-the-hammer-strikes-the-anvil\/","title":{"rendered":"No More the Hammer Strikes the Anvil"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Sean
Sean Mac Eoins forge in Ballinalee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No more the hammer strikes the anvil
\nAs the blacksmith discussed the news
\nWith the clients from the country
\nAs he hammered on horseshoes
\nAnd fixed items of iron
\nIn the furnaces flames
\nAs they talked culture, war and politics
\nThe future and sports games.<\/p>\n

All shades of opinion walked through its doors
\nThe issues of the day did debate
\nAnd the blacksmith had his opinion
\nOn the emerging state
\nAs a landlord class looked on in wonder
\nAt the loss of all they held dear
\nAs the future looked a one of hope
\nFor the tenant – for the landlord it was of fear.<\/p>\n

To church and chapel on a Sunday morning
\nEach to his own to pray
\nAsked God to look upon their side
\nAnd by them in times of trouble to stay.
\nAnd time it passed as it always does
\nAnd the world was rearranged
\nBorders made where before there never was
\nAnd for some all was unchanged.<\/p>\n

The poor they still were poor as ever
\nAnd the freedom of which they did brag
\nBrought nothing, as Connolly had warned
\nBut for a change of flag.
\nThe tyrants of the Saxon had gone
\nTo their motherland they had flown
\nAnd the one who exploits the working class
\nAre of their faith and race: their own.<\/p>\n

The landlords house was torn down
\nTo avenge the Saxons guilt
\nFor tearing down a monastery
\nFrom which the house was built.
\nAnd a nation of one faith stood
\nTheir like and likes beside
\nClaimed they were of the faith of God
\nCommitting the mortal sin of Pride.<\/p>\n

Within which little children
\nSuffered pain, with no voice
\nFor the pleasures of another
\nAnd they had no choice
\nBut silent to keep
\nFor no one would believe
\nA child who suffered such things
\nItself a nation did deceive<\/p>\n

And this is the freedom we made for ourselves
\nFor which Britain is not to blame
\nAnd all knew, not just in later years
\nAnd that is our nations shame
\nClergy and schoolmasters
\nPeople of power and respect
\nAbused the trust of innocents
\nAnd countless lives they wrecked.<\/p>\n

But that was one topic
\nAs the hammer stroke after stroke
\nShaped the hot metal glowing red
\nOf that it was never spoke.
\nDo talk of the injustices
\nOf rents and of your faith
\nDon’t talk of the wrongs of your own in power
\nDon’t think ill of those who are great.<\/p>\n

And the hammer strikes the anvil no more
\nAs horses are few as cars were then
\nAnd time changed all, and yet nothing
\nAnd may do so again.
\nAnd the hand that wielded the hammer
\nForged a new nation from blood
\nSome say he was right to back the Treaty
\nOthers say that he never should.<\/p>\n

And Irishman against Irishman
\nEach of Erin a son
\nTook sides, in ballot and by bullet
\nEach side wielded a gun
\nOnly to settle for much the same
\nAs if they never fought at all
\nAnd the bitterness lasts to today
\nAs traitors each other they call.<\/p>\n

An honourable Treaty with an honourable enemy
\nSaid the Blacksmith in his speech
\nA chorus for the ignorant along with the drinks
\nHe bought, being “dacent”, for voters each.
\nAnd yet when the time came
\nUp to the Honourable Enemy to stand
\nThey were neither willing or able
\nTheir beleaguered Irishmen up north to give a helping hand.<\/p>\n

Its a lot different than wielding a hammer
\nAgainst hot metal in a forge in a village small
\nThan when your faced with a national crisis
\nAnd you have no arms at all
\nAnd nyeucks and corner boys
\nTo their communities railed
\nAnd though they committed excesses
\nThey succeeded where an Army failed.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No more the hammer strikes the anvil As the blacksmith discussed the news With the clients from the country As he hammered on horseshoes And fixed items of iron In the furnaces flames As they talked culture, war and politics The future and sports games. All shades of opinion walked …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,20,37,23],"tags":[115,2345,2342,38,1171],"class_list":["post-1012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ireland","category-irelands-wars","category-irish-war-of-independence-1919-1921","category-north-longford","tag-ballinalee","tag-ireland","tag-north-longford","tag-sean-mac-eoin","tag-war-of-independence","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-gk","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3473,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/village-of-the-three-generals\/","url_meta":{"origin":1012,"position":0},"title":"Village of the Three Generals","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"5th January 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"St Johnstown, or Ballinalee From where the three generals hail Monroe, Wilson and McEoin Two Scotsmen, one of the Gael. All men brave in their own way By their enemies feared and respected Europe, America and Ireland Their destinies by them affected. The Huran, the German and the Tans Met\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ireland"","block_context":{"text":"Ireland","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/ireland\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Monroe, Wison and Mc Eoin were all born and reared in the hinterlands of Ballinalee, or St Johnstown as it was also known in former times.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Ballinalee.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Ballinalee.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Ballinalee.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Ballinalee.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":342,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/on-boycotting-the-sean-mac-eoin-statue-unveiling\/","url_meta":{"origin":1012,"position":1},"title":"On Boycotting the Sean Mac Eoin Statue Unveiling","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"18th July 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I thought of it, attending... The unveiling, the Taoiseachs speech, About a hero we have in common, Who across the divide does reach. He fought the war, he made a choice, Though my folks did not think his choice right, Having fought the war he had the right to choose,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Irish Civil War"","block_context":{"text":"Irish Civil War","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/irish-civil-war\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Enda Kenny in Ballinalee at the Sean Mac Eoin staue unveiling","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Enda-Kenny-in-Ballinalee.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Enda-Kenny-in-Ballinalee.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Enda-Kenny-in-Ballinalee.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3803,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/when-they-stood-there-for-that-photo\/","url_meta":{"origin":1012,"position":2},"title":"When They Stood There For That Photo","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"15th July 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=exWwz1HEJFg When they stood there, for that photo Before my father was even born then Who is now but in a picture a face Did those women and men Wonder at the world to come And ponder the coming times of change Though they did not do this I think\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Family Stories","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/family-stories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo taken of our family outside our home in Aughagreagh by Sean MacEoin, known to us as \"Tipper\" McKeon, when he was known as John Joseph McKeon...","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Carty-family-of-Aughagreagh.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Carty-family-of-Aughagreagh.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Carty-family-of-Aughagreagh.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Carty-family-of-Aughagreagh.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3214,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/ambush-at-dooney-rock\/","url_meta":{"origin":1012,"position":3},"title":"Ambush At Dooney Rock","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"11th October 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"When we come at the end of time, To Peter sitting in state, He will smile on the three old spirits, - \"The Fiddler of Dooney\" (W.B. 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When Gen. MacEoin and his staff arrived to unfurl the flag it was discovered that there was no flag-staff. However, G.V. Simmons,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Irish Civil War"","block_context":{"text":"Irish Civil War","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/irish-civil-war\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Free State Flag Raised at Athlone Barracks by General Sean Mac Eoin. 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