Poem by John Banim

Demand and Supply

Paudeen And Moya
[Note: Air--``The meeting of the waters;'' Or, 
``The boys of Kilkenny.'']

``Arrah, Moya, my pet, do you know what they say
About what we're for doing next marrying day?
They say, that to go to the Soggarth, that way,
Is a shame and a schandle--faith, that's what they say!
Is a shame and a schandle--faith, that's what they say!''

``A--thin, how's it a shame and a schandle, Paudeen?''
``There's too much of us in it, already, petteen,
And to go to the priest, is to go in the way
Of more of us coming--and that's what they say--
Of more of us coming--and that's what they say.''

``And how would some more be too many, Paudeen?''
``Sure the gintleman makes it quite plain to be seen--
For--if more comes than's wantin', or call'd for, says they--''
``Och! Paudeen, the bastes! and is that what they say?
If more comes than's call'd for!--Is that what they say?''

``No--but more than there's room for, or ating, or drink''--
``Och! ould Ireland, Paudeen, can hould more than they think,
And the Lord never lets a new mouth see the day,
But He sends something for it--for all that they say!
For all that from morning to night they can say!

``And so we must shame our poor people of ould,
Or wait till the love goes away, or grows could?
Is that what they say, Paudge? Is that what you say?
Och, Paudeen, is that what yourself means to say!
Och, Paudeen, is that what yourself means to say!''

``In one thing they're right, pet, as I understand;
Sure enough, we're too many for them in this land--
But, they'll see a few more of us, day after day,
Ere we make ourselves scarce for them--that's what I say!
Arrah, Moya, my darlent, and that's what I say!

``Ere the name that we got from our mothers, to give
To our wives and our daughters, as long as they live,
Has a spot to be seen in the sunniest day--
By St. Bridget, the vargin! and that's what I say!
By St. Bridget, the vargin! and that's what I say!

``Ay--or wait till the love goes away, or grows could,
And be doin' God's will when we're bother'd and ould;--
So--heccum--pothe, lanna! next marryin' day
To the face o'the priest there's some more that I'll say!
To the face o'the priest there's some more that I'll say!''

1. Soggarth Aroon
2. The New Reformation
3. The Celt’s Paradise. Second Duan
4. The Irish Mother in the Penal Days
5. The Celt’s Paradise. First Duan

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