Ann-Marie Doherty Sligo Champion Jan 24th 2007

I RECENTLY received the following poem from a friend who happened to come upon it. It was written by my grandfather, Alex Doherty, at the time when Rosses Point was first connected to the electricity supply in November, 1947.

BEHOLD THE LIGHT

No more I dread the dark night hour

A star is on the hill

No more the flickering candles weep

Upon my window sill.

No more my beads when counting out

My homely evening prayer,

I sit the dreary twilight through

In darkness shaded there.

Will be complete to this great network

With mighty Shannon power

Then perfect transformation

Shall bequeath the brightest hour.

The mystery of the great unseen

No man of this can tell,

But man can lead the giant on

Unseen from pole to pole.

The apple tree far far away

When all was but a dream

Has marked the pasting years as miles

By times unending stream.

No more at night I ponder lone

Some lordly lighted hall

I wake me from my ark of sleep

To bless the Lord for all.