Critical Edition of "Reilly," by Al Purdy

Created by Ricki Elder
English Master's Student, University of Saskatchewan

Reilly by Alfred Purdy
December10th 1939
Reilly 1 In the white capped Rocky Mountains 2 I was workin' like to diedlike to died: A colloquial hyperbole, "so that I nearly died." 3 On a landslide for the railwaylandslide for the railway: Probably caused by the land's prolonged exposure to "the pourin drippin rain" (10). Landslides, which buried track and derailed trains, were a common problem in the early days of the railway. The Atlas of Canada website describes the conditions for landslides, as well as much historical data: "In the historical period (taken to be post-1840), landslides in Canada have resulted in more than 600 fatalities, including the destruction of several communities, and caused billions of dollars in damage" (The Atlas of Canada). 4 It was west of the divide.the divide: "A ridge or line of high ground forming the division between two river valleys or systems; a watershed; the Great (Continental) Divide, that of the Rocky Mountains; fig. a dividing or boundary line; spec. the boundary between life and death" (OED).
5 I was leanin on my shovel 6 And a tryin' hard to rest 7 To the hawk eyed section foreman 8 I was doin' of my best.
9 I was watchin all my buddies 10 In the pourin drippin rain 11 There was Eyetalians and dagosdago: Slang for "a man of Spanish parentage" (OED). 12 And a Chinaman and Dane.
13 Then a feller stopped beside me 14 Its a puzzle where he came 15 But he said my name is ReillyReilly: An Irish surname that refers to an ancestor. Ancestry.com gives the meaning of this name: "Irish: reduced form of O'Reilly, an Anglicized form of Gaelic O Raghailligh 'descendant of Raghailleach', Old Irish Roghallach, of unexplained origin." 16 And I hope you are the same.And I hope you are the same: That is, I hope you are also of Irish descent.
17 He was just a barrel of butter 18 With a nose like CyranoCyrano: That is, Cyrano de Bergerac, the "French satirist and duelist whose works include the spirited drama The Pedant Imitated (1654). He is the subject of Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), which depicts him as a chivalric duelist with a comically long nose" (American Heritage Dictionary). 19 But his eyes were blue as ErinErin: An "ancient name of Ireland, from O.E. Erinn, dat. of Eriu" (Online Etymology Dictionary). 20 On a sea the Irish know.
21 Though his hair was like a beacon 22 Of his homeland by the seahair... sea: That is, his hair was red, as is stereotypical of people of Irish descent. 23 There was something in his laughter 24 Stirred the Irish blood in me.
25 Then he said I'll tell my story 26 And its few the tale may hear 27 That can keep their eyes from brimmin 28 Or the sheddin of a tear.
29 I was once a happy farmer 30 Where the Shannon RiverShannon River: "a river flowing SW from N Ireland to the Atlantic: the principal river of Ireland" (Dictionary.com). flows 31 And I knew an Irish maiden 32 Like the dew within a rose.
33 In the peat bogs there are fairies 34 And the little people wise 35 But they had no use for Reilly 36 When they darkened Moira'sMoira: the Scottish or Irish equivalent of "Mary," meaning "bitter;" however, the name classically has the Greek meaning of "doom" or "destiny" (WikiName.com). Both meanings are relevant to Moira's becoming blind. eyes.
37 In the swampland by the twilight 38 That forever came to stay 39 It sealed her lips of laughter 40 When the light was gone away.
41 Sure the fairies are forgetful 42 Of their own, for she is one 43 Just a little frightened fairy 44 At the setting of the sun.
45 In the home land in my own land 46 Shannon valley growing green 47 And my heart is still with anguish 48 For the sight of my colleen.colleen: Anglo-Irish, a girl (OED).
49 Like a ghost I had to leave her 50 With the moon upon the sea 51 And my little farm is lonely 52 For the bride it will not see.
53 For I went to seek my fortune 54 And perhaps the sight of gold 55 Will spur on some proud physician 56 To a wonder yet untold.
57 Far across the western ocean 58 Where the sunset is in flower 59 And the spring wind woos the pine trees 60 For the sweetness of their dower.
61 And perhaps an Irish farmer 62 Will go back before he dies 63 To the homeland of St. Patrick 64 With the light for Moira's eyes.
65 By the winds that circle heaven 66 Chart my course where they are whirled 67 I will ever follow fortune 68 To the ending of the world.
69 To the land of Greece and Athens 70 And the Arctic tundra bare 71 I will even enter England 72 If my heart's desire is there.
73 Though the years are not unkindly 74 They are passing by the score 75 And I find I can't remember 76 Of the dress that Moira wore.
77 Sure I may not be as handsome 78 But the little people know 79 That my heart is true and youthful 80 As it was so long ago.
81 In the homeland in my own land 82 Shannon valley growing green 83 And my heart is still with anguish 84 For the sight of my colleen.
-------------- ------- 85 And he said his name was Reilly 86 I was Irish so I sighed 87 In that little mountain eyrie 88 And just west of the divide.
89 And my dreams were all of Erin 90 Where the River Shannon flows 91 Of a maiden sweet reclining 92 Like the dew within a rose.
93 Though I can't be called a softy 94 For I've roamed around the sea 95 And I've viewed the world in passing 96 And the world has branded me.
97 But my heart is not yet hardened 98 As old Pharaoh's must have beenheart... been: Alludes to Exodus 7-10, when the Pharaoh refuses to listen to the plight of the Israelites and set them free from Egypt. 99 And I surely hope that Reilly 100 He will find his love again.

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Critical Edition of "Reilly," by Al Purdy

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