in the late 1700's the british sought to further subjigate the irish peasant by requiring them to divide their estates equally among their offspring. this led to smaller and smaller plots,unable to support a family. the irish responded by delaying marraige well into their fifth and sixth decades. the poem is political satire decrying the practice of "recalcitrant bachlorhood". the main character is taken and made to stand trial before the queen of the fairies, for this "crime". the last lyric poem published in the irish language. a beautiful read, full of earthy humor, and sufficiently inciting to cause the british to ban its publication.