The old man on the bench.

Walking through Downtown Disney these days is more like walking in a war zone then walking down a peaceful Irish road. But if you can get around the construction walls and find yourself in front of Raglan Road Irish pub you will see that familiar figure sitting on a bench. But who is this man and what is his connection to Raglan Road? Well he wrote it. Wrote what you ask? Well not the menu but the poem that the restaurant is named for. His name is Patrick Kavannagh, and along with  Joyce and Yeats and all the rest he is one of Ireland's best know wordsmiths. The poem was published in October of 1946 and later turned to song as many great Irish poems do. below are the words to the poem and song that gives us one of best dinning experiences in all of Downtown Disney.

On Raglan Road

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew 
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue; 
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way, 
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day. 

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge 
Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge, 
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay - 
O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away. 

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known 
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone 
And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say. 
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May 

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now 
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow 
That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay - 
When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day.

So next time your visiting Raglan Road for dinner or just posing for a picture with old Pat. Be sure to pop inside for a pint and toast the old man outside sitting on the bench watching the world go by.