"I'm going to speak my mind because I have nothing to lose."--S.I. Hayakawa
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Friday, January 29, 2010

The Rising of the Moon

When I was many years younger and had housework to do in the little house I rented in Anchorage, I would put a 33-1/3rd album on my record player and turn the volume as loud as I could stand it. Then I sang along with Tommy Makem and Clancey Brothers as they sang songs of Ireland.


Moon rise, Jan. 29, 10 p.m. Photo by available moonlight.

One of my favorites was By the Rising of the Moon, a song of hope and brotherly courage for yet another doomed Irish rebellion. I liked it because it was easy to sing along with, and the volume drowned out my voice in case I was off key or hit a sour note. I did not, at the time, have any neighbors within hearing distance.

Today, the song is played widely in Ireland.


And hurrah my boys for freedom; 'tis the rising of the moon".
Tis the rising of the moon, tis the rising of the moon
And hurrah my boys for freedom; 'Tis the rising of the moon".

4 comments:

  1. Wonder of wonders, what a photograph.

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  2. I agree that housework is nearly tolerable when accompanied by favorite songs.

    Fabulous photograph, Gully.

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  3. Off the subject, I'm reading The Book Thief after reading your comments saying you were extremely impressed by Markus Zusak's writing.

    I don't often laugh outloud when I read but I did last night as I was reading the chapter titled The Woman With The Iron Fist.

    Summarizing the preceding events in the chapter, Liesel's foster mother makes her go to the door of the mayor's house to pick up a bag of dirty clothes from his crazy wife.

    "Liesel walked the path, climbed the steps, hesitated, and knocked.

    A bathrobe answered the door."

    That is a simple example of how Zusak is a magician. I can see why you were wanting to write like him.

    Now I want to write like him too!!!

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  4. Hi Gully

    A while back you mentioned Gibran Khalil, and now Omar Khayam, so I'm wondering if you've ever read the 'Panchasika of Chaurus' or, as its translation is called, 'Black Marigolds'. (Steinbeck has Doc quote some of it at the end of 'Cannery Row'.)

    You'll find it at http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/bilhana/bil01.htm

    ReplyDelete