I have done with going to Mass
And going to the pictures
Roles are reversed
Now they come to me
Computer screen
A button’s touch
A film at my command
And daily mass an item
From anywhere in the land
In childhood days
The Church sent out the call
And holy Romans
We were held in thrall
Attend or go to hell
The ringing of the bell
Bow down your heads
Just about said it all
No telly in those days
So Cinema
Sent out the summons
Today for three days only
Then the picture changed
Another in its place
American movies
Took over our head space
American movies
Roman church
Irish immigration
English language
Protestants all around
Coal mines and cotton mills
Coronation Street
Welcome to my childhood’s holy ground
I left it all behind of course
Except the Roman bit
The Roman bit had swept me in its net
A mere child not yet grown
My own will yet to own
I obeyed the rules
And yes there is regret
But things they worked out fine
Although I toed the line
The man inside was stumbling to be free
And meeting Margaret set the tone
At last my life my very own
Is walking up the road and meeting me
Brian Fahy
2 September 2021
Erris Poetry 