Stranded

Beaches come and go

It would appear

Now you see me

Now I disappear

Tide and time

Make their entrances

Their exits too

Leaving a land severe

At Dooagh now

In Achill sand appears

Returned like a Yank

In fancy clothes

Off it went

Those many years ago

Now come home

Bathed in sunshine glows

The action of the ocean

So I’m told

Angry one minute

Violent undertows

Now in generous flood

A harvest grows

Depositing a sand

To tickle toes

Such is life

We have our ups and downs

Losing loved ones

Knowing cares and frowns

Then from out of nowhere

Flooding in

The joys of life

Enjoy –

It’s gone again

Nowhere to be seen

Ah well – there’s Keem!

Brian Fahy

1 May 2017

The village of Dooagh in Achill received a surprise gift of a returned beach, a present from the sea. It was lost in 1984 and then it returned in 2017, only to disappear once more.I know people from this village, Mangans, long ago in London. I have visited Achill many times, my own people being from Westport and from Erris. Life is a story of loss and gain.

God bless Dooagh.

Brian Fahy

Stirling

Scotland