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Poem
March 16, 1878
The Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
A humorous ode to St. Patrick, celebrating Irish devotion through shamrock and whisky, preferring his blessings over other saints, and wishing for whisky rain instead of water.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
AN ODE TO ST. PATRICK.
Though solus here I pick my bone.
And drown my shamrock all alone.
And ne'er the worse for that.
I'll ale and drink (to make amends)
Both to and for all absent friends,
To honor thee, St. Pat.
And faith, to thee I'd rather quaff
Than any saint on heaven's staff
That ever Pope gazetted;
Because to thee we Irish sinners.
Who love to sprinkle well our dinners.
Are very deep indebted.
There's good St. Swithin—had he given
(Instead of water) wine from heaven,
For forty days together.
Then truly for a moist "set in"
Six weeks of wet would not have been
Uncomfortable weather.
But oh! the liquor gemmed with beads.
That in my glass this moment beads
The riot act, so frisky!
Sweet Pat, if e'er in humorous vein.
Thou takest it in thy head to rain,
For heaven's sake rain whisky!
I wonder what in censure's way
The devil's lawyer had to say
Against thee, Pat—where had he?
The worst that Eden's self could prove.
(The devil's lawyer he, God knows!)
Would be to call thee "Paddy."
But let them call thee what they will
Through life I'll love thy worship still
And when my race is over
Let shamrocks crown my bed of sleep.
Let whisky dew the shamrocks steep.
And friends say around me while they weep.
"Here lies a Pat in clover."
Though solus here I pick my bone.
And drown my shamrock all alone.
And ne'er the worse for that.
I'll ale and drink (to make amends)
Both to and for all absent friends,
To honor thee, St. Pat.
And faith, to thee I'd rather quaff
Than any saint on heaven's staff
That ever Pope gazetted;
Because to thee we Irish sinners.
Who love to sprinkle well our dinners.
Are very deep indebted.
There's good St. Swithin—had he given
(Instead of water) wine from heaven,
For forty days together.
Then truly for a moist "set in"
Six weeks of wet would not have been
Uncomfortable weather.
But oh! the liquor gemmed with beads.
That in my glass this moment beads
The riot act, so frisky!
Sweet Pat, if e'er in humorous vein.
Thou takest it in thy head to rain,
For heaven's sake rain whisky!
I wonder what in censure's way
The devil's lawyer had to say
Against thee, Pat—where had he?
The worst that Eden's self could prove.
(The devil's lawyer he, God knows!)
Would be to call thee "Paddy."
But let them call thee what they will
Through life I'll love thy worship still
And when my race is over
Let shamrocks crown my bed of sleep.
Let whisky dew the shamrocks steep.
And friends say around me while they weep.
"Here lies a Pat in clover."
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Religious Faith
Patriotism
What keywords are associated?
St Patrick
Ode
Irish
Shamrock
Whisky
Saint
Poem Details
Title
An Ode To St. Patrick.
Subject
To St. Patrick
Key Lines
Sweet Pat, If E'er In Humorous Vein.
Thou Takest It In Thy Head To Rain,
For Heaven's Sake Rain Whisky!
Let Shamrocks Crown My Bed Of Sleep.
Let Whisky Dew The Shamrocks Steep.
And Friends Say Around Me While They Weep.
"Here Lies A Pat In Clover."