TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT

by

BRIAN DODDS

 

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
don't tell me that she didn't, for she told me so,
the night before Christmas Eve;

so fair a fancy
few would weave in these years, Hardy said,
and yes, I can accept an indulgent smile.
But then you did not see the frightened waxen face,
prefiguring the coffin easing down,

nor did you hear her certainty,
nor were you there to see
the resignation in her tired eyes.
And I shrank from the hand
that had combed my hair for nits,
my face pressed against the pinny that was her.

I am educated, rational, watched Armstrong
on the moon,
but listen, I still need to tell you this:
my granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,

don't tell me that she didn't, for she told me so

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
she told me so, fear in her face
the night before Christmas Eve;

so fair a fancy
few would weave in these years, Hardy said,

And I shrank

I am educated, rational,

watched Armstrong on the moon,
but listen, I still need to tell you this:
my granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,

don't tell me that she didn't,
for she told me so

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,

fear in her face, she told me so

but I shrank from the hand

I am educated, rational,

watched Armstrong on the moon,
but listen, I still need to tell you this:
my granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,

don't tell me that she didn't,
for she told me so

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
fear in her waxen face, she told me so
hours before Christmas Eve;
so fair a fancy
few would weave in these years,
Hardy said, but then
I found it easy to believe.

And I shrank from the soft hand
that combed my hair for nits,
face pressed against the pinny that was her;

the coffin easing down

Educated, rational,
watched Armstrong on the moon

But listen, I still need to tell you this:
my granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
don't tell me that she didn't,
for she told me so

I need to tell you

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
fear in her waxen face, she told me so
hours before Christmas Eve;
so fair a fancy
few would weave in these years,
Hardy said, but then
I found it easy to believe.

And I shrank from the soft hand
that had combed my hair for nits,
face pressed against the pinny that was her;
You've got a double crown,
she would always say

The coffin easing down

Educated, rational,
I watched Armstrong maybe on the moon

But listen, I still need to tell you this:
my granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
don't tell me that she didn't,
for she told me so

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
fear in her waxen face, she told me so
hours before Christmas Eve;
so fair a fancy few would weave in these years,
Hardy said, but then
I found it easy to believe.

And I shrank from the soft hand
had combed my hair for nits,
face pressed against the pinny that was her;

You've got a double crown,
she would always say, and hug me close and warm;
that night I withdrew,
foresaw her coffin easing down.

Educated, rational,
watched Armstrong on the moon,
I do not want to
But listen, I still need you all to know
that granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
don't tell me that she didn't,
for she told me so

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
fear in her pale face,
hours before Christmas Eve;

so fair a fancy few would
weave in these years, Hardy
said, but for a child
so easy to believe.

And I shrank from the soft hand
had combed my hair for nits,
my head on her breast;
You've got a double crown,

she would murmur, hugging
me close and warm, but that
night I shrank away,
foresaw her coffin down

in the dark earth on the hill.
I may have watched Armstrong
make that giant leap
some thirty years ago,

but irrational or not
I need to tell you this;
she saw the banshee,
because she told me so.

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
fear in her pale face,
hours before Christmas Eve;

so fair a fancy few would
weave in these years, Hardy
said, but for a child
so easy to believe.

And I shrank from the soft hand
had combed my hair for nits,
my head on her breast;
You've got a double crown,

she would murmur, hugging
me close and warm; but that
night I shrank away,
foresaw her coffin down

in the dark earth on the hill.
I may have watched Armstrong
make that giant leap
some thirty years ago,

but - irrational or not -
granny saw the banshee;
don't say she didn't,
because she told me so.

I need to tell you this

My granny saw the Bean Sídhe
the night before she died,
fear in her pale face,
hours before Christmas Eve;

so fair a fancy few would
weave in these years, Hardy
said, but for a child
so easy to believe.
And I shrank from the soft hand
had combed my hair for nits,

my head on her breast;
You've got a double crown,

she would whisper, and hug me
in close and warm; but that
night I shrank away,
foresaw her coffin down

in the dark earth on the hill.
I may have watched that little Arm
Strong leap
some thirty years ago,

but - irrational or not -
granny saw the banshee;
don't say she didn't

_____________

  • Bean Sídhe - pronounced 'banshee'.
    Traditionally, the Banshee appears shortly before a death in the family. The Banshee is almost always female; my grandmother called her 'a wee woman in white'.
  • pinny - pinafore or full length apron