I was the golden boy
First born handsome clever
Top of the class
In everything I did
Ordained a priest
A pedestal position
Not that I wanted it
I was a go-to person
Problem solver
Comforter
Authority
Man in black
But no
Not Johnny Cash
Always able
Always expected to…
Do this be that
Institutional guru
God help us all
Falling in love
Soon put paid to that
Helpless in my heart
And no escape
Back inside the monastery
Withdrawn from the world
Yet again
Everybody
Have their ups and downs
Struggling
Seems to be the way of things
But further education lay in store
When widowed
Depression came a-knocking at my door
Why get up?
What to do when up?
I spent a whole day
Staring at the wall
I need help
The message loud and clear
My doctor gave me tablets
Stabilised my mood
My neighbour Gerry gave me good advice
Do what you can
Do not compare yourself to others
You’ll only brood
And then salvation came
I found a counsellor
Our strategies for survival
She told me
Often become obstacles instead
My writing had me going round in circles
My grief a locked – in roller coaster ride
It is talking that loosens us inside
Honest dialogue
Unties the knots
Our issues we untangle
Until our grief in time
Evaporates
Brian Fahy
12 May 2021
Erris Poetry 