"twist"

No No dear Bill, the twist in the poem is similar to a "rope"---for lack of a better word -- of embroidery thread . That kind of thread bought in small amounts and precut then sort of braided into an loop kinda' thing.
Not too good an explanation. Sorry.
There is another kind of twist ... more modern ?? Maybe tsuwm or Max or Cap K or of troy who appears to know more Irish than I do...can help
All atwizzle in a tizzy ... memory going ... brains leaking out ears ...
wow