AFTER THE BATTLE

MARGARET HAD A FIERCE  LONGING   FOR JUSTICE

I know that when I  wrote about my Aunt Anna Coleman one of the things that I stressed was her  participation in "Shows" that  I would  arrange with my sisters Janie and Sheila as a sort of last resort  to amuse them--it was  my ace card that never failed.  For the past  months I have been having unexpected finds when Mikey, a Conlon cousin, helps me twice weekly to go through the endless boxes of books and household items stored in our  patio and garage.
Recently I found tucked in a collection of Irish poetry a little folded  blue paper with my childish penmanship listing the  sequence of songs and performances for one of those shows that I recall so vividly but of which I am the only still living participant.

So finding the little program is like discovering evidence that I am not  making these memories up. Sometimes I  doubt myself  and wish I could  talk  about them with a witness,  but that is difficult when no one but me is  alive to remember them.
So I was amazed when I found  the little folded paper that listed what must have been a Saint Patrick's Day show. All present were  full participants, and my Uncle Joe must have been visiting because he is included as Brother Cyril.

Here is the program:
 Intro --Me
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING ---Sheila (my younger sister
THE WEARING OF THE GREEN  ---All join in
DANNY BOY   ---  Norma
recitation  by Norma of
AFTER THE BATTLE  by Thomas Moore

After the Battle by Thomas Moore

Night closed around the conqueror's way,
And lightnings show'd the distant hill,
Where those who lost that dreadful day
Stood few and faint, but fearless still.
The soldier's hope, the patriot's zeal,
For ever dimm'd, for ever crost --
Oh! who shall say what heroes feel,
When all but life and honour's lost?

The last sad hour of freedom's dream,
And valour's task, moved slowly by,
While mute they watch'd, till morning's beam
Should rise and give them light to die.
There's yet a world, where souls are free,
Where tyrants taint not nature's bliss; --
If death that world's bright opening be,
Oh! who would live a slave in this?

McNamara's Band---  Aunt Anna with Drum
 and all join in with pots and pans 

Comic Recitation  Dinty McCarty spoken by Anna

(I don't recall how this   goes and could not find it on the internet)

Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms--Margaret, my mother

My Wild Irish Rose-- Janie, Sheila, and Norma

Molly Bawn--Norma

The Rose of Tralee--Brother Cyril--Uncle Joe

I am sure  there were a few Irish jigs thrown in  since Anna often led Janie and  Sheila in  dancing.
We always  ended with a group recitation of  a section of SAINT PATRICK'S LORICA 

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right,
Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the
Oneness of the Creator of creation.
Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

My mother called this the Breastplate or the CRY OF THE DEER  and  told us that once when  his enemies were  waiting in ambush to kill Patrick and his followers  they were seen by their would-be attackers as a group of deer passing.

THE FINAL INDIGNITY --A VIEW FROM THE BUCKET

Writing in the Providence Journal (2 Oct) in the Letters to the Editor, a correspondent complains, "as the final indignity, we'll get to watch former Governor Lincoln Chafee stumble his way through the first Democratic candidates' debate. My God, can it get any worse?" This writer needs to rethink the whole question of indignity and embarrassment. Who can embarrass us but ourselves? Nothing any one else does can cause me to feel embarrassment if I did not myself support or encourage the action. Human dignity resides in the person herself and can never be taken from that person. What is the indignity in having elected as Governor a man who had the courage to oppose the Iraq War on the national level, and opposed and helped to expose the dirty dealings of the 38 Studios insiders scam? As a child, too sensitive to the ridicule of others I would feel embarrassed because of our poverty, our circumstances, our lack of Christmas gifts, our lack of money to buy groceries, and many times my mother would reassure me, "The only person who can shame you is you." Lincoln Chafeee has not shamed this state: his raising of difficult and contrary opinions is in the tradition of the archetypal INDEPENDENT MAN and historically personified in this state by personages like Roger Williams, Thomas Dorr, James Wilson, Edward Harris, Anne Hutchinson and Henry Shelton--to name just a few who come to mind. I look forward to hearing what Chafee has to say, and if he embarrasses himself--that will be his problem--not mine and not Rhode Island"s.