Summary: Craftsman’s Will and Testament
Key dates:
I leave my flesh unto the dogs, for that’s their precious right,
I will my bowels and entrails to the eagle, hawk and kite,
To every honest claimant I wish to do what’s fair,
And I will my bones to Joseph Flog, when they are picked quite bare.
To Jack the Brush I will my tail, likewise my silken mare,
To make a set of brushes to keep the people clane.
And to the Irish piper I will my tender skin,
‘Twill make a fine new bellows for to supply the wind,
To fill the streets with music at the pattern and the fair,
To cheer the hearts of boys and girls dancing on Irish air.
This poem was written by a travelling craftsman. It shows how Irish craftsmen relied on their wits to exploit every available resource.
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