About Ancient Ghosts and Green Heart Songs

Ancient Ghosts and Green Heart Songs is a personal anthology of poems, songs, hymns, and music begun around 1995 as a kind of journal. The theme is very simple--celebration of my family, my grandparents and parents, my brothers, my husband and daughter, and an expression of gratitude to God for them, and for my Christian Faith and Irish heritage. Some are deeply sad while others are joyful. Some are prayers and others laments, or even protest against abuse. They are all born of love, of pain, of grief, and of profound Faith. The anthology will be complete when I return home...

Ancient Ghosts...some songs

...

My Moredaddy


 

It is said that a child's first memory creates her understanding of God. 

If the memory is frightening, she will be afraid of God.

If the memory is loving, her God will be loving.

This is the first memory I have as a little girl.

It is easy to see how I can put Faith in a God Who promises

RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD!

 

 

"My Moredaddy"

 

The little girl sat rocking

as her tears  of grief she cried.

She sobbed:  "Please help, Moredaddy,

cause my little Dolly died!

 

I squeezed her neck so tightly

that her head fell on the floor

I think I killed my Dolly

'cause I can't fix her no more.

 

I hugged her and I kissed her

everday we spend at play.

Oh please help her, Moredaddy!

Don't let Dolly die this way."

 

The old man gently took her doll

and wiped away her tears.

The little girl's grandfather smiled

and hope replaced her fears.

 

He opened up his tool draw

and pulled out coarse green thread,

and the little girl sat next to him,

on that big old lumpy bed.

 

Moredaddy started sewing.

He made a smokey ring

And as pipe smoke hovered over them

the girl began to sing.

 

"Oh I love you my Moredaddy

for making Dolly live!

As little girls know everywhere

That's the best gift you coud give."

 

Then he handed her the Dolly

and a smile spread o'er her face

"Now," says he, "your Dolly has

an Irish green necklace!"

 

Then he hugged them both and helped them

get down to the floor to play.

And the mem'ry he created

lasted years beyond that day.

 

The years go by so quickly

and the changes that they bring...

Her Moredaddy's gone to heaven

but he still can hear her sing:

 

"Oh I love you my Moredaddy

for making Dolly live,

and the love you gave to me that day

I promise I will give.

 

My little girl is growing up.

One day I hope to be

the kind of loving grandparent

my Moredaddy was to me!"

 

Copyright 1998, Cait Finnegan




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