Still Now The Hurling Hero’s Hand

Still Now The Hurling Hero’s Hand

© Author & Poet Tom Ryan.

[Dedicated to Thurles Sarsfields Hurlers of the past.]

Still now the hurling hero’s hand
That wedded to the ancient ash of his camán
On green and glorious fields of youth
Forged memories magical.
Abandoned now the stalwart hurl of pride,
Hewn from the ash of Killough Hill,
That in many a field of trial had fashioned
The powerful poetry of play.
The game is over,
The nets are down,
The passion spent,
The hero’s home.
He hurls but now in memories
On dark, cold winter nights
By the fireside’s of Cuchulainn’s Gaels.
Or wherever hurling folk assemble
With the ash in their head and heart,
To play and play again
The stirring games of yesterday.

End.

Tom Ryan, “Iona”, Rahealty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.