| Padraic Colum (1881–1972). Anthology of Irish Verse. 1922. |
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| 95. The County of Mayo |
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| By George Fox (Translated) |
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| ON THE deck of Patrick Lynch’s boat I sat in woeful plight, | |
| Through my sighing all the weary day, and weeping all the night, | |
| Were it not that full of sorrow from my people forth I go, | |
| By the blessed sun! ’tis royally I’d sing thy praise, Mayo! | |
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| When I dwelt at home in plenty, and my gold did much abound, | 5 |
| In the company of fair young maids the Spanish ale went round— | |
| ’Tis a bitter change from those gay days that now I’m forced to go, | |
| And must leave my bones in Santa Cruz, far from my own Mayo. | |
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| They are altered girls in Irrul now; ’tis proud they’re grown and high, | |
| With their hair-bags and their top-knots—for I pass their buckles by; | 10 |
| But it’s little now I heed their airs, for God will have it so, | |
| That I must depart for foreign lands, and leave my sweet Mayo. | |
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