Thursday, February 20, 2014

On Philomena Lee

For many single mothers and their children living in Catholic Ireland of the nineteen fifties was an Earthly Hell
And stories of abuse and child stealing they did have to tell
Brave Philomena Lee with the loss of her child to wealthy Americans was one who did cope well
Though the so called devout people who had sinned against her and her child on their past wrongs refused to dwell

When to have a child out of wedlock in Ireland was looked on as a crime
The early to the latter part of the twentieth century in that little Country was an unenlightened time
And the government and opposition political parties of the time for this must share some blame
What happened under their watch at the hands of so called religious people remains a historical shame

In Ireland in the twentieth century the so called Land of God
Parents and teachers and religious institutions did not spoil the children by sparing the rod
And for many single mothers like Philomena and her child even worse than physical abuse
For the wrongs of the past there can be no excuse

But by one politician in the Ireland of the twentieth century respect to the single mother and her child in his mother and child bill was shown
Dr Noel Browne for his compassion and courage despite fierce opposition in historical stature as a human being has grown
Long deceased credit to him for his achievements many in Ireland choose to deny
But his mother and child bill he introduced to the Dail the Parliament of Ireland to his greatness testify

The courage and compassion  and forgiveness in Philomena the film on her life does display
Her story though sad and tragic inspiring in truth one can say
The Ireland she lived in as a young person from Earthly Utopia did seem far away
But as a Country it is far more enlightened today.

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