Poems by "Cushag"/The Ride
THE RIDE.
It happened once upon a time
I met the Fairies straying,
From under Bearey's Cap they came
To go once more a-Maying.
They came about me in the mist,
I heard their songs and laughter,
And some went dancing on before
And some came singing after.
My nag was shod with fairy shoes
And bred among the mountains,
And many a moonlight prank she played
Along the streams and fountains.
We scampered down by Greeba Mills
And on to old St. Trinian's,
And hastened lest the Big Buggane
Should join us on his pinions.
Though steep as Ugh ta breesh ma chree
The road to green Ballinghan,
My nag stepped out with might and main—
Her like is not in Englan'.
For up she went and on she went
Above the trees o'erarching,
And on the Braid we turned to see
The mountains all come marching.
From Greeba Towers to Laxey Glen
Their noble heads up-lifting,
And far behind them in the blue
Their fleecy helmets drifting.
St. Mark's and Sluggadhoo we passed
And came to Ballamoddha,
And here my Fairy Company
Fell into some disorder.
For men, they said, and motor-cars
Have spoiled the roads for Fairies,
We'll meet you further on, they said,
Among the lonely Gareys.
I scarce had gone a mile before
My steed began to blether,
Her fairy shoes, she said, were best
For travelling through the heather.
So round she went, and West she went,
And through the pleasant Gareys,
And here I met my friends again,
My company of Fairies.
And over Colby Bridge we raced
And through the Croit-y-Caley,
And all the folk from Cronk-Howe-Moar
Came out to meet us gaily.
Then up Cregneash we went like storm
For day began to hurry,
And at the circle met the sun
And stayed at Lag-ny-Wurry.
And on the Hill we danced till eve
And round about the hollow,
Till all the bones got up and joined
And set themselves to follow.
"No, no," we said, "not so," we said,
"Our ways are not together;
We'll take the road and go," we said
"Stay you and watch the weather."
My nag was fed by fairy hands,
She drank from Chibbyr-Garvel
And in a trice she leapt aloft
And left the bones to marvel.
The mist came floating round again
With songs and laughter ringing—
And there we were on Bearey slopes
Where morning larks were singing.