The Lake Isle of Innisfree

“Truly fine poetry must be read aloud. A good poem does not allow itself to be read in a low voice or silently. If we can read it silently, it is not a valid poem: a poem demands pronunciation. Poetry always remembers that it was an oral art before it was a written art. ItContinue reading “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”

OTR Celebrates Spring with Irish Poets

Patrick Henry Pearse was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist.   He is considered by many to be the essence and soul of The Easter Rising of 1916.  He loved Ireland and died fighting for its freedom. The Mother I do not grudge them: Lord, I do not grudge My two strongContinue reading “OTR Celebrates Spring with Irish Poets”

OTR Celebrates Spring with Irish Poets

  I was about four years old when my mother introduced to me to “The Fairies” by William Allingham.  I recall my concern over poor little Bridget, until I reasoned that she really was quite alive still living with the “Wee folk, good folk.” William Allingham was born March 19th, 1824 in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. Continue reading “OTR Celebrates Spring with Irish Poets”

OTR Celebrates Spring with Irish Poets

Today is the first day of spring.   What better way to welcome spring than by declaring it, thanks to UNESCO, to be World Poetry Day?   William Butler Yeats, considered to be one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century, was proud of his Irish nationality.  In his poem, A Prayer for My Daughter, heContinue reading “OTR Celebrates Spring with Irish Poets”

OTR Celebrates Irish Poets

March belongs to the Irish poets.  Ireland’s dramatic landscape, history, language and people have granted richness and dignity to their poetry.  There are so many remarkable poets and poems to choose from so I decided to start at the beginning. “The Mystery” is considered to be the first Irish poem attributed to one of Ireland’sContinue reading “OTR Celebrates Irish Poets”