Paddy In the Smoke
An old man walks the cobbled streets
Of a city he helped create
When he had walked on younger feet
Back so proud and straight
The bog’s of Ireland he left behind
To search for a better life
In a foreign city’s numbing grind
With mind erasing strife
Loneliness ate his homesick heart
And solace he did seek
In bars where he became a part
Of sad emigrants clique
Far too swiftly his life took flight
With only dreams of home
Work filled days and drink filled nights
But always so alone
Cruel age stole the years and strength
As quick as you could blink
Work and home and hope soon went
Only friend now left is drink
So now he walks those cobbled streets
Homeless broke and old
While in his mind old ghosts he greets
Clad in green and white and gold
Copyright © Eamon Duffin | Year Posted 2011
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