The Thirsty Poet

Blessings on King Donal’s daughter,
    Gracious Ethna, good indeed,
Who, when I had cased the township 
    For rat poison,
Sent me two and thirty wry-necked
    Harnessed hauliers’
  Load of mead.

Source: Frank O'Connor; The Little Monasteries; Dublin; Dolmen
Press; 1963, 1976 (1976 ed.); p.13