I REMEMBER LOVE

The familiar allure
Of Eddie Stobart
Hauling the night
Mid-country

Red tail lights
Like Christmas
In flickering rain

The confident probability
Of a Chrylser Cruiser

Then the dark aloneness
Of the open
Motorway

I remember love

Innocent
Intent
Translucent

Young couples 
Mutual self-giving 
Everything

Determined

To succeed
Even destined

With the elevated
Blessing of the One
True Lover

Making the journey
Worth while

And all self-emptying
Fruitful

BROKEN BEACH

Down the cliff
The station house has fallen
Fractured fragments
On a broken beach

The ground where once
We stood secure
No longer there

MORASS

We are plunged into the dark
Morass of suicidal grief
Solemn and soundless

The silence of oppressive 
Night

We cannot breathe
There is no rest

We gasp and dash about
Fretfully seeking 
Air and freedom

From guilt
The endless question

As if we could 
Have stopped you 
Going as you did

UNDERLAYER

Let them take it 
Off you, 
Your dignity

Said the Crucified

Like they took it
From me

Untorn
Undergarment

Full woven
Seamless

Nearest to skin
And flesh and bone
Protective layer

Camouflaging
Its naked
Sensitivity

Let us let go
Of all that

Arriving uncovered
In the underlayer
Of contemplation

Heart and soul

Where God communes
Intimately
With unspeakable tenderness

Where seamless integrity
True dignity is born

And hope springs to life
Borne out in every
External expression

HANA MASIKIO - A Blessing

The old woman pushes
Through the post-Baptismal
Mill and murmur

Believer and non alike
Making more noise
Than silence desires

She stands the little child
In front for me to bless

With water 
From the Sacred Font

I kneel to the little one
Who cannot hear

And sadness deepens
In my heart
Whispering to God

Hana
She has no ears
Hana Masikio

Then touch the tender 
Flesh He says
Where ears might be

This part of her beauty

And I obey
And we learn

Listening to each other
With our eyes
The girl and I

I see and hear serentiy
She sees and hears
My prayer

Blessing me with water
From the Sacred Font

Touching the damaged
Parts of me
Pronouncing them

Beautiful

WHEN I AM HOME - Prayer for Guidance

Put me down  

On the ground

The Way that I
Must follow

Resettle me
On my own soil

Unspoiled state
Of being

Place of belonging
Before harmony

Unravelled

Beyond the dawn
And being born

Unsoiled soil
That is no grave

But garden where I am
Truly myself

Our very own Eden

I will know You then
As I am known

I will truly love You
As I am loved by You

And everyone
Will be better off

When I am home

EAMONN'S ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

MY ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

My ice bucket challenge in memory of the inspiring and brave Barbara Clavette & Fr. Michael McCormack sac. Making no nominations but consider supporting water projects of www.trocaire.ie  or Vita.ie. 

We had great fun in Toorkeel with Evelyn Monson and Harry Monson with Katie on camera and Laura in tears because she didn't like it which was the response of a number of little children in the course of this campaign. Donation made to MND