Poem

For an Unknown Farmer

Title For an Unknown Farmer
Author Pól Ó Muirí

Instances of Publication

A published appearance of this poem.

Collection/Anthology Year of Publication Medium View Details
D-Day 1995 Print Collection View Details
Publication Instance Details #2617
Collection/Anthology Details
Collection/Anthology D-Day
Date of Publication 1995
Publisher Lagan Press Poetry (Northern Ireland)
Page Number(s) 61
Publication Overview
Translation Is Multilingual Explicit Irish Context? Ekphrasis Has Paratext? Reference to News, Media or Technology
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Details
Human Rights Issues
War / Genocide Referenced
Irish Context
Languages
Genre Short Lyric
Medium Print Collection
Notes This poem describes an older man in America in a Minnesota Veteran's Home, who fought during World War II. He is haunted by the 'young dead' of the war, and his memories of his time in Europe during the fighting. The speaker of the poem addresses the man directly, giving hints that he could be his uncle, since he courted his aunt during wartime. His background is hinted at - since he takes 'instructions on the faith' in Clonard monastery, he could be a Northern Protestant or perhaps an American soldier in Northern Ireland, converting to marry the speaker's Catholic aunt. This isn't specified in the poem, however. The speaker describes the poem as a 'rushed farewell' to Marvin - the name of the man.
Is bunachar beo é seo. Entries continue to be updated.