An Old Woman of the Roads by Padraic Colum - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry

An Old Woman of the Roads

O, to have a little house!
To own the hearth and stool and all!
The heaped up sods against the fire,
The pile of turf against the wall!

To have a clock with weights and chains
And pendulum swinging up and down!
A dresser filled with shining delph,
Speckled and white and blue and brown!

I could be busy all the day
Clearing and sweeping hearth and floor,
And fixing on their shelf again
My white and blue and speckled store!

I could be quiet there at night
Beside the fire and by myself,
Sure of a bed and loth to leave
The ticking clock and the shining delph!

Och! but I'm weary of mist and dark,
And roads where there's never a house nor bush,
And tired I am of bog and road,
And the crying wind and the lonesome hush!

And I am praying to God on high,
And I am praying Him night and day,
For a little house - a house of my own
Out of the wind's and the rain's way.

'Delph' is a type of glazed earthenware, made at Delf (or Delft) a town in Holland. © by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes

Analysis (ai): This poem explores the longing for a simple and comfortable life, set against the harsh reality of poverty and homelessness. The speaker, an old woman, dreams of a home with a warm fire, a clock, and a few precious possessions. She longs for a sense of security and belonging, but instead is faced with darkness and uncertainty.

Through its simple language and clear imagery, the poem captures the desperation and loneliness of the speaker. The contrast between the speaker's dream and her current situation highlights the harsh reality of her life. The poem reflects the social and economic conditions of the time, where many people lived in poverty and were forced to dream of a better life.

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Older comments

Michael mc dermott - This is a poem from my schooldays, speckled and white and blue and brown! fond memories.....

Keep going

on Nov 10 2021 02:36 AM PST x edit

- Quite right!

on Sep 28 2020 10:52 PM PST x edit

Reminds my wife of her granny's thatched cottage near Belcoo, Co Fermanagh. She had a dresser with her collection of delph. The light from the turf fire would bring the delph alive. She loves this poem.

on Nov 02 2011 02:17 PM PST x edit

Comments from the archive

- Wonderfully touching, I feel I want to buy her a little house so she is completely off the road and safe. Poor woman, I still feel her sadness and I hope she's off the road now forever, at peace on her little stool by the fire.

on Apr 07 2004 05:25 AM PST x edit

- A very sad poem but not without hope as the old woman of the roads still has her dreams, Padraic Colum penned such beautiful verse, she moved through the fair, A cradle song and this poem An old woman of the roads as well as many others.

on Feb 14 2004 10:27 AM PST x edit

Von Powell - Such sadness expressed on these few lines. Spoken of the poor of Ireland, dreaming of the basic requirments of life - believing them to be luxuries. How fortunate we are today.
~Von~

on Nov 30 2003 12:05 PM PST x edit