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Dear Readers: March 17 is a day to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. Born in the fourth century, in Roman Britain, Patrick was taken captive by Irish pirates at the age of 16. He turned to God and Christianity and escaped. He returned to Ireland in 432 as a missionary. When he dies on March 17, 461, he had established churches, monasteries and schools, paving the way for Christianity to become the largest religious group in Ireland. Below are two fun poems from the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats.

“Down By the Salley Gardens”

By William Butler Yeats

Down by the salley gardens

my love and I did meet;

She passed the salley gardens

with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy,

as the leaves grow on the tree;

But I, being young and foolish,

with her would not agree.

In a field by the river

my love and I did stand,

And on my leaning shoulder

she laid her snow-white hand.

She bid me take life easy,

as the grass grows on the weirs;

But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

“The Lake Isle of

Innisfree”

By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

And here are some Irish blessings. Wishing you and your families a very happy St. Patrick’s Day.

“May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now and bless you evermore!”

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

“May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”

“May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.”

“May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.”

“May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children’s children. May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.”

“May there be a generation of children on the children of your children.”

“May the roof above us never fall in. And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.”

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.