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Address to an Old Wooden Gate Lyrics by Patrick Kavanagh

Poems: 1929-1938

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Battered by time and weather, scarcely fit
For firewood; there's not a single bit
Of paint to hide those wrinkles, and such scringes
Break hoarsely on the silence – rusty hinges:
A barbed wire clasp around one withered arm
Replaces the old latch, with evil charm.
That poplar tree you hang upon is rotten,
And all its early loveliness forgotten.
The gap ere long must find another sentry
If the cows are not to roman the open country.
They'll laugh at you, Old Wooden Gate, they'll push
Your limbs asunder, soon, into the slush.
Then I will lean upon your top no more
To muse, and dream of pebbles on a shore,
Or watch the fairy-columned turf-smoke rise
From white-washed cottage chimneys heaven-wise.
Here have I kept fair tryst, and kept it true,
When we were lovers all, and you were new;
And many a time I've seen the laughing-eyed
Schoolchildren, on your trust back astride.
But Time's long silver hand has touched our brows,
And I'm the scorned of women – you of cows
How can I love the iron gates which guard
The fields of wealthy farmers? They are hard,
Unlovely things, a-swing on concrete piers –
Their finger-tips are pointed like old spears.
But you and I are kindred, Ruined Gate,
For both of us have met the self-same fate.
Credits
Patrick Kavanagh

Patrick Kavanagh

About “Address to an Old Wooden Gate” by Patrick Kavanagh

Read the complete lyrics to "Address to an Old Wooden Gate" by Patrick Kavanagh from the album "Poems: 1929-1938". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature, Irish Rebel Music.

"Address to an Old Wooden Gate" is performed by Patrick Kavanagh. from the album "Poems: 1929-1938" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Address to an Old Wooden Gate", explore more songs by Patrick Kavanagh using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Patrick Kavanagh · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Address to an Old Wooden Gate" is credited to Patrick Kavanagh. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Address to an Old Wooden Gate" appears on "Poems: 1929-1938".

Visit the Patrick Kavanagh artist page at /artist/patrick-kavanagh for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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