The waters of my Youth © Tony Fallon033018.

The waters of my Youth © Tony Fallon033018.

 I often cycled across the Shannon when I was on my own

It wasn’t very difficult if you used the bridge of Athlone

As I crossed that expanse I wondered who could guarantee

That there wasn’t another monster in the bottom of Lough Ree

For it was often in my dreams that when I’d be there fishing

That along would come Nessies cousin with its tail swishing

Those beady eyes were scary and teeth from snout to throat

Even a little nip from that would surely stunt my growth

Those were the nights I’d wake up everybody with my screams

But never would I tell them the scary content of my dreams

We lived near two lakes ourselves but I wouldn’t cross in a boat

For I worried about the boat capsizing and not staying afloat

All the stories I’d been told about getting shocked by an eel

Or winding up in the belly of a Nessie for her midday meal

So that’s my story of my youthful fear of our local lake

And the wild dreams of monsters that often kept me awake