He was a little priest
Physically small
I knew him for a fortnight
Salford way
Looked after his little parish
Quiet as a mouse
A modern John Vianney
You might say
I gave a mission
Visited his people
Preached as best I could
God help us all
His housekeeper
An old and foreign lady
Survivor of the war
Strict withal
He had a holy ritual
On a Saturday
Involving whisky
And a football game
Only when the ref
Had blown his whistle
Would take a sip
Of that liquid flame
A quiet holy disciplined disciple
A man who knew his people
Well and true
He bought me a book as I was leaving
And signed his name
Denis Sheeran – here’s to you
Brian Fahy
6 July 2021
Erris Poetry 