1601 was the year it happened at the start of October
During the nine years war, The thoughts of Cork were far from sober
For an invading fleet was on its way from across the Irish sea
But the people of Kinsale were ready for battle so to meet
They had allied themselves with the Spanish
Of which the English, mortal enemies, swore to vanquish
So on the second day of October the English forces came
The Irish and Spanish, they swore to tame
A bloody battle ensued and lives were lost
Also the flight of the earls at Ireland’s cost
England’s forces dominated once again
Poor old Ireland, old enemy and friend
Protestant against Catholic, always the same fate
Full of bloodshed and dominance, religious hate
Mountjoy against O’Neill, The battle was fought
The old Gaelic order destroyed as was sought
Sadly Ireland was now obedient to Britain’s might
Caught in their dominance of the world they had in sights
The biggest superpower they became for a while
Controlling the seas in impressive style
If you would like to find out more about Kinsale then go to the following links (copy & paste/blogroll):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kinsale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsale
reading-stars
Nov 11, 2011
Gives you chills at the thought. Hope it never happens again. Really good poem.
Darren Greenidge
Nov 11, 2011
Bless you. It’s an emotive place to be.
Randall
Nov 11, 2011
How many wars are there? It reminds me of a movie called Jeremiah Johnson. He had served in the military and then moved west to live. Some army troop came by and wanted him to lead them to some location, so he did. Then when they were leaving, he asked them, “who won the war?” The reply was, “Which war?” Truly an excellent poem by the way.
Darren Greenidge
Nov 12, 2011
Thank you Randall. Yeah, There’s loads of wars aren’t there. Some I have an interest in living where I do.
Britain was at war with pretty much everybody in various stages in her history over a few thousand years, so plenty to pick from.
Now they’re more or less peacekeepers really as most are nowadays. War has changed
I find it sad that we as a species constantly go to war over the same thing again and again.
We NEVER learn do we.