
Tom French
from In the Night Garden
An Orchid in Connemara
In Barra de Bhaldraithe's one rushy acre,
back from the road where he planted saplings
and close to the butter well at the very centre,
the magairlín meidhreach continues to prosper.
He does not know the name it has in books
but thinks it good the ancient name persists.
He calls it by the name got from his neighbour.
The magairlín meidhreach is 'the happy bollocks'.
(The Fire Step, 2009)
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