Thoughts on The Famine.

[Mizzy]

Beneath this desolate crust
lie the bones of decent men,
Whose weather beaten headstones
Cry their name,
In their pallid hands
were shovels,
No schooling for a pen,
Fuelled by starving bellies
bow in shame.
Poverty stricken darkened days
of cruel and rampant blight,
The stench of rotten spuds
rose from the clay,
Cold families around a bleak turf fire
another hungry night,
Faces resembled potatoes
in decay.
In time the sepia pictures fade
and youth won't recollect,
a tarnished Crown
that gorged on Irish grain ,
Our ancestors, the starving dead
oppressed devoid respect,
buried forever under sod
Forgotten is the name !


"Between 1845 and 1852 over one million
people died in Ireland from starvation
when blight disease destroyed
the potatoe crop.......
Lest we forget"

[Chelle]

Mm the potato famine was a very harrowing time and sometimes people brought out their worst-like the church closing the gates against their parishioners in some cases.
a fitting reminder of their struggle and loss.

[allmirth]

You highlight a heartbreaking tragedy of history. It is hard for the mind to process such loss. It is not merely the number of lives lost which is stunning, but, the understanding that it should not have played out that way.

Thanks much for sharing.
Mirthy

[Mizzy]

I appreciate your caring
comment Chelle......

Regards.........Mick.

[Mizzy]

Thank you Mirthy,
The loss really does challenge belief.

Regards........Mick.

[Balustrade]

Famine is, to me, the worst enemy of mankind. There is nothing worse than having nothing to eat. Very stirring and thought provoking.

[Jerryk]

Those were terrible times, indeed; there's another twist to the tragedy: England's long-running political hegemony over Ireland most likely added greatly to the misery caused by food shortages. The Irish didn't live on potatoes alone. It's always politics. A great reminder, Mizzy. Thanks for a fine write.
Jerry

[Larsen M. Callirhoe]

Such is life in Africa constantly these days. America has enough land to grow crops to feed Africa and politicians pay farmers to suppress the price and growth of crops in the United States... It is truly sad that we learn nothing from past famines in my opinion. Then again what do I know? Enjoyed reminiscing here albeit on a sad overtone....

victor

[Mizzy]

Thank you Balustrade,
for expressing your view.....

Regards Mick.

[Mizzy]

Thanks Jerry,
To this day power seems to be greater
than the value of human life.

Regards Mick.

[dornicks]

A very touching and sad piece on a terrible tragedy,which was man made,-for profit. Did you know that Queen Victoria gave £100 to a dog's home on the same day she gave £5 to famine relief in ireland? What a wonderful world.!
Thank you for sharing this,

dornicks

[Mizzy]

Thank you Victor...
Tragic.....I know,
but good to be mindful of it !

Mick.

[DreamerSeeker]

This is a sad piece of history. Great job and keep on writing! :)

[Mizzy]

Thank you Dornicks,
The Queen Vic story doesn't surprise me.

Mick.

[Mizzy]

Many thanks Dreamer,

Regards......Mick.

[BarryC]

the power bleeds in your words-well done