A trains stopped, a dead cow on the trackway
\nAnd children crying herding more
\nAnd I woken from my reverie
\nI enjoyed while traveling before
\nThe train stopped at the accident in Pre\u0161evo
\nAs we all peered out to see
\nThe cause – thank God only a cow is dead
\nSaid the people next to me<\/p>\n
And as I watched them get smaller in the distance
\nChildren before their time to adults grow
\nI thought of my mother, her cattle grazing the long acre
\nOutside of Ballinalee so long ago.
\nDifferent times, different lands, yet the same
\nSimilar fears, needs, ambitions through the years
\nThree or more children, doing adults work before their time
\nLittle adults shedding childish tears.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A trains stopped, a dead cow on the trackway And children crying herding more And I woken from my reverie I enjoyed while traveling before The train stopped at the accident in Pre\u0161evo As we all peered out to see The cause – thank God only a cow is dead …<\/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":[82,23,205],"tags":[115,1083,1085,1084,1086,2342,1082,2355],"class_list":["post-875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-balkan-odyssey","category-north-longford","category-serbia","tag-ballinalee","tag-children","tag-cow-tending","tag-cows","tag-long-acre","tag-north-longford","tag-presevo","tag-serbia","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-e7","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2085,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wake-at-ballinalee\/","url_meta":{"origin":875,"position":0},"title":"Wake at Ballinalee","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"25th July 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"My mother told of attending a wake when a child in her native village Ballinalee, where the pipes that were smoked cermonially at the wake were swiped by her and her freinds. Having no tobacco to smoke, they filled them first with turf and then with coal, only to become\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Death"","block_context":{"text":"Death","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Clay pipe remnant of the kind that was smoked at an Irish funeral years ago. Wefound tons of these in our garden in Banagher when I was a child growing up. This sample is from County Clare.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/funeral-clay-smoking-pipes.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/funeral-clay-smoking-pipes.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/funeral-clay-smoking-pipes.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/funeral-clay-smoking-pipes.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/funeral-clay-smoking-pipes.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2959,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/gurteen-lake-and-the-curse-of-the-mccarthys\/","url_meta":{"origin":875,"position":1},"title":"Gurteen Lake and the Curse of the McCarthys","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"12th July 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Verse from another legend from Longford recorded by the Irish Folklore Commission From Clonbroney the priest was travelling Was making his weary way When to call in on Protestant neighbours He decided to: was invited to stay For all children of Christ are Christian No matter how that they pray\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Folklore and Legend"","block_context":{"text":"Folklore and Legend","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/folklore-and-legend\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gurteen Lake in Ballinalee","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gurteen-Lake-in-Ballinalee-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gurteen-Lake-in-Ballinalee-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gurteen-Lake-in-Ballinalee-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gurteen-Lake-in-Ballinalee-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gurteen-Lake-in-Ballinalee-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5026,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/memories-of-grandmother-at-drumnahara\/","url_meta":{"origin":875,"position":2},"title":"Memories of Grandmother at Drumnahara","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"11th August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The shaking hands that set the plate Of ice cream and jelly that vibrate With an old woman's smile under curled hair I remember the jelly, wobbling there. Some old yarn with my mother, recalled I sat there, watching, silent, enthralled, \"But yer always scoulding\" it was said - Someone's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Family Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Family Stories","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/family-stories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The parlour in the Donohoe house in Lislea: by mothers father, brother and mother, outside Ballinalee.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lislea.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lislea.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lislea.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lislea.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3214,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/ambush-at-dooney-rock\/","url_meta":{"origin":875,"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. Yeats) Two men there died, by forces slain Who were comrades not so long ago Such is Civil War, at Dooney Rock Watched\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Irelands Wars"","block_context":{"text":"Irelands Wars","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/irelands-wars\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Anti Treaty IRA forces captured \"The Ballinalee\" armoured car, and it saw action against the Free State Army in future engagements before being burned out when recapture was beyond prevention. It was renamed \"The Wild Rose of Lough Gill\"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Ballinalee-Armoured-Car-was-renamed-the-Lough-Gill-on-capture-in-Sligo.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2328,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/saintjohnstown-so-beautiful-a-name\/","url_meta":{"origin":875,"position":4},"title":"Saintjohnstown – So Beautiful A Name","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"1st October 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"My mother grew up outside the Longford village of Ballinalee. She always said she preferred the English name on it, St. Johnstown... called after the Church of Ireland church, built on the reputed site of a Greyfriars monstry dedicated to St, John the Baptist... Little village, from here her family\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Banagher"","block_context":{"text":"Banagher","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/banagher\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Saint Johns Church of Ireland Ballinalee","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Saint-Johns-Church-of-Ireland-Ballinalee.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Saint-Johns-Church-of-Ireland-Ballinalee.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Saint-Johns-Church-of-Ireland-Ballinalee.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Saint-Johns-Church-of-Ireland-Ballinalee.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4115,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/on-deaths-embrace-i-shall-sleep\/","url_meta":{"origin":875,"position":5},"title":"On Deaths Embrace, I Shall Sleep","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"5th November 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"On deaths embrace, I shall sleep With all my worries o\u2019re And those who liked or not, in memory me they keep They shall speak with me no more. For under blanket of the clay My bones till Worlds End will lie Pray not for me: for yourself pray: For\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Death"","block_context":{"text":"Death","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Old Clonbroney - outside Ballinalee in Longford. Image from Google StreetView","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Old-Clonbroney.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Old-Clonbroney.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Old-Clonbroney.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Old-Clonbroney.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Old-Clonbroney.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=875"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":876,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/875\/revisions\/876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}