Pass me By

Righteous Jammer

Walking with my head up
Look you in the eye
You pass me by

I walked in your direction today
Closer I got to you
The more I felt
You pass me by

I keep my head down now
Afraid to look you in the eye
You always pass me by

FinsburyParkCarrots

On Raglan Road

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge
Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge,
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay--
O I loved too much and by such by such is happiness thrown away.

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say.
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May.

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow
That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay--
When the angel wooes the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day.

[From Patrick Kavanagh, Collected Poems, New York: Norton, 1973]
Copyright (c) 1964 Patrick Kavanagh

Righteous Jammer

thank you, that brought tears to my eyes