A farmer ploughing fields beside Lough Mask
Sunshine on the plough
The horse at his task
Suddenly a bell begins to chime
The midday hour
The Angelus
Remembering the time
When Mary answered yes to Gabriel
And Christ began his journey
All is well
The farmer pulled the reins
The plough stopped still
Man and horse together
Do God’s will
The world is still
Man and beast at prayer
Only the tinkling bell
Disturbs the Mayo air
This image and this story come to me
This Sunday morning
Internet courtesy
The boy who saw his father stopped in prayer
Tells the story from his pulpit there
In Ballyhaunis Mayo
On this day
When all the world is gathering to say
Time for man and nature to be at one
The plough the horse the field
The shining sun
And will we listen?
Answer nature’s prayer
Like Mary long ago
The angel there
Let Christ be born again in every place
Let Christ be born in me
And in our human race
Brian Fahy
31 October 2021