O'RIORDAN'S SPANISH BODENSTOWN
by SÉAMUS ROBINSON © 2006
( Inspired by Michael O'Riordan's account of the
CONNOLLY
COLUMN'S commemoration of Wolfe Tone in the 'Chabola
Valley' camp, Spain 1938. Michael died May 18th 2006. )
'Chabola Valley', June '38,
We saved our rations for that date,
When back in Ireland we would go
To Bodenstown to honour Tone.
That Sunday we laid out a spread,
Of tough mule meat and black rice bread,
And strong red wine from Marsa town
To help us wash the banquet down.
We made the speeches, sang the songs,
And spoke of centuries of wrongs --
Remembered why we'd come to save
Spain's republic from the grave.
But many would as soon have been,
Back home among our fields of green . . .
Sipping pints of black stout down,
In a quiet pub . . . near Bodenstown.
* * *