‘The First Day I Set Eyes On Nancy Brown’
© Joe Canning 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Dedicated to all who have loved, lost and remember!

The first day I set eyes on Nancy Brown,
‘Twas in the emerald swathe of grassy field.
Surrounded by the butterflies and dancing;
Jigs and reels around the fairy tree.

Nancy she had cheeks as red as fire,
Her laughter it was captive and sublime,
That sight so long ago I still remember,
The first day I set eyes on Nancy Brown.

Stunning was that maid with hair of flaxen,
She looked my way with blue beguiling eyes,
That vision long ago of pure enchantment,
Is imprinted still in my old failing eyes.

‘Twas too much then to dare to think she’d want me,
For my melted heart turned me to bumbling clown,
And dared not I to tell her that I loved her,
The first day I set eyes on Nancy Brown.

But ne’er a truer word was ever spoken,
When the writer penned that “love will conquer all”,
And so a smitten lad plucked up the courage,
To ask that ‘Cinderella’ to the ball.

My world she changed that day when she consented
And danced did we that night to ceilidh sounds,
Young hearts in love that evening were cemented,
The first day I set eyes on Nancy Brown.

Three score years of happiness did follow,
A host of trials, troubles, happy times,
Mucky faces in the scullery gathered,
Reared on mince and tatties, love and smiles.

So till I’m called I’ll cherish all my memories,
And the legacy my Nancy handed down,
A hundred million times dear Lord I thank you; for,
The first day I set eyes on Nancy Brown.

Joe Canning’s Poetry Page on Facebook: Joe Canning ‘ A look at Ireland in verse’

Painting by by Michael and Inessa Garmash