An Old Man’s Wish

I was walking to the airport with my suitcase and my bags
When an old man approached me and his clothes were all in rags
Every footstep seemed an effort, there was anguish in his speech,
He said “son forgive me asking, but do you come from County Laois?”
Well I could not help but wonder as he did his best to talk,
How he ended up so broken in the subways of New York.
Then I heard my flight announcement but before I went my way,
He said “son do me a favour when you get back home today”
“Will you give my love to Emo” and the tears rolled down his face,
“Will you make a wish for me beside the Rock of Dunamase,
Will you smile on Ballybrittas and just tell her it’s from me,
And will you light a little candle in the church in Clonaslee”.

As the jet plane soared to Ireland he kept coming to my mind,
I could see his tragic features as I left him far behind.
I just could not bear to tell him that I’m not from Laois at all,
That I come from near Bundoran in the County Donegal.
Well I suppose you’ll say I’m foolish and who knows, perhaps I am ,
But I know I had to grant that wish to that poor old broken man.
As the sun set over Ireland I was on my way to Laois ,
I could see his troubled features , I could hear his voice beseech.
So I gave his love to Emo as I thought of his sad face
And I made a wish for him beside the Rock of Dunamase,
And I smiled on Ballybrittas just the way he asked of me,
And the I lit his little candle in the church in Clonaslee.

Well three years had, passed or maybe four, I soon forgot it all
I settled down and married in my native Donegal.
Then one night as I was walking home this brilliant light appeared,
And in it stood the poor old man, he smiled and said “don’t fear”,
He said “ I’ve come to thank you” and his face was all aglow,
And then my mind flew back to Laois, it seemed so long ago.
And suddenly he disappeared, But AHH! That strangest peace
For I knew that God has called him home, to heaven and to Laois.
He said “give my love to Emo” and the light shone round his face
“And make a wish for me beside the Rock of Dunamase,
Please smile on Ballybrittas and just tell her its from me
And will you light a little candle in the church in Clonaslee”.