Papal Impressions
Pacelli appears gaunt solemn serious
A man in isolation lonely pope
Deep set eyes intelligence
All things come through me
Papal power honour, bend the knee
Roncalli total opposite
A granddad
Open-hearted, world-embracing man
Experienced war twice over
Peasant countryman
Opened windows letting fresh air in
Montini churchman bright
Intelligent
Had to face a world in total flux
Swinging sixties
Swept away conventions
Revolutions pills
All too much
Then the smiling pope
What was his name?
Luciani that‘s the man
And such a shame
Lasted but a month
When he died
No one really knew him
No one cried
Then comes Wojtyla to the throne
Polish strongman
Ready for the fray
East and West
Get the JP treatment
27 years
The longest day
Ratzinger the German gentleman
Pleasant smile healthy head of hair
Surprises many by his pleasant shyness
Rottweiler reputation
All hot air
Breaks the mould
Breaks the old tradition
Resigns his place
Age has told him so
The teacher the professor
The gentle music man
Steps away
He knows it’s time to go
So we come to Francis
In the stream
A man I’d say
Who fits the bill just right
Easy manner
Looks you in the eye
Humble man
But no one’s coconut shy
All of us have strong points
All have weak
Being in the spotlight
Who would seek?
But Francis is a good man
With depths we do not see
God bless his days
He will do for me
Brian Fahy
25 May 2021
Erris Poetry 