Naked I Saw Thee by Patrick Pearse
Why Quill'n Pint was created...
On February 19th, 1990, I was in the Library at the University of Wisconsin-Superior as a struggling student-athlete trying to find my own life's path. In a library or bookstore, I had always found myself in awe of the published written word, bound tightly and presented for the world to enjoy, engage and devour. One of the books I happened to slip from the shelves of the "Reference" section was "Dictionary of Irish Literature," (c) 1979, by Robert Hogan and published by Greenwood Press Inc., Westport, Connecticut.
I recently found the notes I took from that faithful evening, recalling I didn't have the change to make my own copy, which was probably five cents. It was an entry on Page 62 about Pádraig Pearse, defined by my notes as "executed by a British firing squad in 1916," "shy, quiet," and "wanted liberation of Ireland through arms."
My love affair with my proud Irish heritage began early in life with the warmly recalled memories of my Irish grandparents, Tom and Lena Conran.
That Feb. 19th however, my energized quest to soak up Irish history beyond being proud of my heritage truly evolved.
"Fornocht do chonnac thu" was the Gaelic title of Pearse's poem that translates into, a phrase he would hate to hear, the King's English, "Naked I Saw Thee."
The poem reads in what I will call 'the language my ancestors were forced to speak' as follows:
Naked I Saw Thee, O beauty of beauty
and I blinded my eyes, for fear I should fail
I heard thy music, o melody of melody
and I closed my ears for fear I should falter
I tasted thy mouth, o sweetness of sweetness
and I hardened by heart for fear of my slaying
I blinded my eyes and I closed my ears
I hardened my heart and I smothered my desire
I turned my back on the vision I have shaped
and to this road before me I turned my face
I have turned my face to this road before me
to the deed that I see and the death I shall die
These words, as lovely as poetic and desperate, lit the wick that became my undying passion for knowledge and understanding of my Irish roots. Hope you enjoy them.
