Late Summer Steps

1

Having found a home in Castletroy

we found ourselves.

Late for the bus

Bright morning Sun

blown in with the dew

sprinkled our path

as we took late summer steps

Quickly we walked

in the Milk Market where vendors hawked

Kale and Carrots called us by name

while down at the Tesco wraps we did claim

Not long after that

we hopped on the bus

amidst mouthfuls of market fresh quiche crust

We read up on Killarney and the Wild Atlantic Coast

with more sights to see than could possibly be

in our short span of two nights and a day

we settled on walking along th’old Kerry Way

To the Gap of Dunloe and around lough Leane

To end where we started, who could hope for more

but to lighten our packs and fill our minds with Lore

Having found a plan

we found ourselves.

Leaving late from the city to start our fifty K trek

2

Bountiful blackberries wrapped in the road

unripe as they were held promises bold

of what we would find if we took time

to stop and taste beauty sublime

Till sundown we walked

with a stop here and there

to take in Torc Falls

and Muckross Abbey’s walls

As the last rays of sunlight fell flat on the nettle

we pitched our tent

on the shores of upper Killarney Lake

Filled by beauty in Foxglove and Bog

we slept in Black Valley ’til Dawn came around

Having been found by the midges

we found ourselves.

Itching and scratching, far less than we would if they’d been mosquitoes. 

 

3

Our journey into the Gap between

Purple Mountain and MacGillycuddy’s Reeks

was blessed early on by a red irish fawn

near the old stone tower we happened upon

Another step up

we climbed to the pass

with the Reeks to the left and Mangerton Mountain to the right

it was indeed a stunning sight

In no time at all

we traversed the Gap of Dunloe

with jaunting car drivers passing us by

while many a pilgrim stopped to say hi

Streams and small showers reflected the towers

of rock, clouds and sky

At the head of the gap we stopped for lunch

strong irish cheddar, kale and carrot wraps

shook off the fifteen K morning with a zesty onion crunch

Having found history in mountain tops and old shimmering waters

we found ourselves.

with fifteen K left to walk

4

With light on our souls

we walked our poor feet for 15 K more

around the lough Leane

where Tir na N'og hides

the monastic isle of Innisfallen lies

we passed by Ross Castle and got back to our start

at the edge of Killarney town, still in good heart

Having found a hidden forest of rhododendrons

we found ourselves.

content to sleep deep.