My uncle Tommy
Was not known for exertion
A lovely gentle man
With kindly eyes
The image of my grandmother
I thought him
Eldest of the family
No disguise
He worked down the pit
All his life
Maybe missed a Monday
Now and then
His wife was Aunty Lily
She a good’un
Warm as sunshine
Comfort in the rain
Now Tommy wasn’t
By any means
A gardener
Content to see
Grass grow just like a coat
When a neighbour mentioned
Grass was getting long like
Our Tommy says, ‘Aye,
A’ll have for t’ gerra goat!
Brian Fahy
18 May 2021
Erris Poetry 