My father held me to his cheek
I the babe in arms
A smile so bright across his face
After all of life’s alarms
And when he died he spoke my name
When other words were gone
To comfort me in my distress
A father loves his son
Belonging is our birthright
Our cradle and our nest
I feel it still my father’s love
A power and a zest
And those whose lives are lonely
Have lost that precious thing
And long to know where they belong
Belonging we can sing
Brian Fahy
17 October 2021
Erris Poetry 