There’s a steady drizzle falling
A magpie on that roof
He doesn’t care for rain I’d say
He hops from hoof to hoof
And now he tries a clever trick
Clinging to the wall
Underneath the roof and eaves
Avoiding all rainfall
But clinging can’t last very long
On the roof again
But at least his feathers are waterproof
No brolly in the rain
I remember a lovely priest one time
His farewell words at Mass
Talking about the people’s view
Of the Reverend they pass
Some think he walks on water
But others yet again
Think the man hasn’t got the sense
To come in out of the rain
But most don’t mind whatever he is
They just let it pass
As long as he has the sense to know
Don’t keep us long at Mass
That magpie now has flown away
That priest is now retired
But I remember well the words he said
He was a man inspired
He was pleasant and good-humoured
A decent man to know
And wise just like the magpie
That I saw an hour ago
Brian Fahy
14 September 2021
+ The priest in this poem was Father Padraig O’Connor. He was saying goodbye to the people of Westport. I met him in the town one day for a few minutes. I have just discovered today that this lovely man died four years ago, in September 2017. Tributes to him confirm the impression that I gained from my brief encounter with him. I wish I could say it in Irish. God rest your soul, Padraig.
Brian Fahy.
Erris Poetry 