On being Irish.....

From the associated press.....

WHAT IS IT TO BE IRISH?

On 364 days of the year, being Irish isn’t much different than being Scotch…
French…
Italian….
Or yes------even English.

The Irishman pays his bills-----
Complains against his taxes----
And listens to his wife----
Just like a man of any other race.

But on this one day of the year----
Holy St. Patrick’s Day-----

The Irish-man becomes “AN IRISHMAN!!”---

And on this day, you have to be Irish----
To know what … it is to be Irish.

Overnight, the Irishman seems to grow a foot taller…
And stalks the earth like a giant.

People of other races would envy the Irish on this day---
Even more if they could look into his soul…

WHAT IS IT TO BE IRISH?…

It’s having an angel in your mouth----
Turning your prose into poetry…
The gift of tongues…
They know the language of all living things…

On this day----
It seems he can hear what one sleepy bud says to another…
As it opens its pale hands to the warmth of an early spring day…

On this day…
It’s music…
Not just the cornets in the marching band…
But the deep—Deep--- Music of life….
The low, sad rhythms of eternity…

On This day---
All the world is in tune….
And he is in step with that tune…
A tune that only he can hear…

WHAT IS IT TO BE IRISH?….

It’s being able to live the whole history of his race—
Between a dawn and a dawn…
The long wrongs…
The Bird-Swift Joys…
The knock-at-his-heart---
That is a part of his religion…


ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY….

It isn’t just the realization that he is a descendant of Kings…
It’s the realization that--- HE--IS A KING!
AN EMPIRE ON TWO FEET!…
A STROWLLING CONTINENT OF AWE!…

ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY…

An IRISHMAN is to know more glory---
Adventure---
Magic---
Victory and exultation…
Than most men experience in a LIFETIME!

SO ON ST.PATRICK’S DAY….
WHAT IS IT TO BE IRISH?…

It is to walk in the complete, mystic understanding of God….
For 24 wonderful hours!