A famine, then its aftermath <br />Happened between ’45 & ‘51 <br />Caused initially by a spud blight <br />One potato, two potato, three potato more. <br /> <br />Primary food source sacrificed <br />Deadly effect on the Irish population <br />Famine related diseases – over one million died <br />One potato, two potato, three potato more. <br /> <br />Another one million living headed for other shores <br />Culture & origins changed forever <br />Long-term negative effects on Irish traditions <br />One potato, two potato, three potato more. <br /> <br />First came dependency, then subdivisions <br />Followed by starvation & evictions <br />Least we forget food exports, charity, & rebellion <br />One potato, two potato, three potato more. <br /> <br />Also, overreaction – government opinion <br />No desire to keep the family farm <br />“I’m not growing cereal crops & linen” <br />One potato, two potato, three potato more. <br /> <br />All ended with a new generations right of passage <br />Wanted to start a new life in a new land <br />“Let’s see – little money, darkened city dwellers, yeah right! ” <br />One potato, two potato, three potato more... <br /> <br /> <br />‘2007’<br /><br />Robert Sheridan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-luck-of-the-irish/
