Back of the House by Tom Sharp

The grass grows tall at the back of the house because that’s where grandpa urinates, he being too lazy to get to the outhouse. The little people used to hang out there, but now they’ve all gotten serious, studying computers and money management. The old dog comes around and sniffs. Don’t know whether he’s looking for a duck or diagnosing grandpa’s kidney problems. You can find a history of the people in the midden outside the kitchen window— broken dishes and old underwear. Tradesmen knock at the back door, and beggars looking for a piece of pie, but we try not to encourage them. I go out there to still my pride. My people are a careless tribe, leaving many lessons in their mistakes.

Cúl an Tí by Seán Ó Ríordáin

Tá Tír na nóg ar chúl an tí, Tír álainn trína chéile, Lucht cheithre chos ag súil na slí, Gan bróga orthu ná léine, Gan Béarla acu ná Gaeilge. Ach fásann clóca ar gach droím Sa tír seo trína chéile, Is labhartar teanga ar chúl a’ tí Nár thuig aon fhear ach Aesop, Is tá sé siúd sa chré anois. Tá cearca ann is ál sicín, Is lacha righin mhothaolach, Is gadhar mór dubh mar namhaid sa tír Ag drannadh le gach éinne, Is cat ag crú na gréine. Sa chúinne thiar tá banc dramhaíl, Is iontaisi an tsaoil ann, Coinnleoir, búclaí, seanhata tuí, Is trúmpa balbh néata, Is citeal bán mar ghé ann. Is ann a thagann tincéirí Go naofa, trína chéile, Tá gaol acu le cúl a’ tí, Is bíd ag iarraidh déirce Ar chúl gach tí in Éirinn. Ba mhaith liom bheith ar chúl a’ tí Sa doircheacht go déanach Go bhfeicinn ann ar cuairt gealaí An t-ollaimhín sin Aesop Is é in phúca léannta.