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163
At Swim-Two-Birds
I can’t stand at Swim-Two-Birds
Opposite Clonmacnoise on the Shannon
Ferryharbourcallows and listen to the master anymore
As he rings his espartovespers and nones out
In the covert and wifewomen pummelpound
their fullnetflax
And give judgementbirth with all the holy men
And kings of Ireland buried there
Amongst the marsh bedstraw and meadow-grass,
The cuckoo-flowers and clover
With the otter and the bag-pipereedfox,
The mute swan and golden plover
And redshank and godwit.