....a wee little limerick in honor of St. Paddy's Day!
His peers often questioned the relevance
of seeking the fine gift of eloquence
when he kissed an old stone
someone’s privy once owned
they suspected grand loss of intelligence
© Ginny Brannan 2013
The Blarney Stone (Irish: Cloch na Blarnan) is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of great eloquence.
Who wouldn't want to visit the famous Blarney Castle?!! Kissing the Blarney Stone was a must on our first trip to Ireland in 2001. A gray day it was when we climbed the 127 uneven steps to the top of the battlements.
(If you scan up from the doorway past the three windows, you will see a hole, that is actually what one leans over to kiss the stone!)
At the top of the castle lies a narrow path around the battlements. The wooden floors that once graced the castle rotted centuries ago and are long gone. Now one looks straight down through the center several stories. A fun walk for someone who fears heights--like me--but nothing was going to prevent me from kissing the stone, after all, I might never visit Ireland again!
... here I am, braving the heights and laying backwards in less-than-graceful position, so that I may procure my gift of fine eloquence!!
**By the way, for those who might not brave the steep climb, 'tis said if one kisses someone who has kissed the stone, then they too will receive the fine gift of eloquence!!
Sharing at d'Verse Poetics: It's not easy being green, and also Poetic 3/17/13
So tis ‘green’ they’d be wantin’ at d’Verse
and it seems that this’ll be me curse:
that I saw a bit too late
now am livin’ with me fate
that I didn’t check Poetics out first!
someones privy once....ha....yeah i could see their point...ha...i would still love to visit it one day...cool pic of you as well...happy st patricks day ginny
ReplyDeletehaha...that sounds fun... i would surely kiss the stone as well though i never kissed a stone before...ha..smiles
ReplyDeleteHmmm not sure I'd want the germs of kissing that thing, but if one kissed it and survived with no diseases, that would work for me haha
ReplyDeleteWell, seeing as I'm still here can attest to survivin' any germs or communicable diseases!! FYI--They actually do wipe it down between each "kiss"!
DeleteOMG - very funny! I'm glad that they wipe it down! A lot of fun here, Ginny. k.
ReplyDelete...what fun indeed... i like places with really deep & mystic historical value & atmosphere... thanks for sharing your adventure... smiles...
ReplyDeleteBig smiles, Ginny. Love how you tossed in that great green poem at the end. You just have to love the Irish and grateful to claim that myself.
ReplyDeleteJust what ye doctor ordered ... a limerick and a fine one at that. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeletegardenlilie.com
this rounds out the topic of our poetry this day...I wondered if anyone would use 'green' for the blarney stone...very well done limericks ;)
ReplyDeleteIt would be quite an experience to kiss the Blarney Stone... one my inner ear imbalance might not allw... but to know I can just kiss someone who has kissed it...
ReplyDelete