It must have been obvious to anyone
That I was a burdened soul just plodding on
The old priest never said a thing
Just gave me a card that held some lettering
Poetry of John Donne was what I saw
Telling me of God’s seasons how they fall
How summer out of winter straight can spring
If we seek his mercy he will bring
I never realised how well he saw
The sorrow in my heart I just withdraw
Only later did I truly see
How gentle that old priest had been with me
Mind you he was sickly too
Suffered from TB a long way back
And worse he supported Man United
And as we know there is no cure for that
Brian Fahy
19 November 2021
+ In 1979 I gave a two week mission at St Peter and Paul’s Church Pendleton, Manchester. An old priest and his lovely housekeeper welcomed me and looked after me during that time. Father Jack O’Keefe was his name. Some people you never ever forget.
He can bring thy summer out of winter
Though thou have no spring
All occasions invite his mercies
And all times are his seasons
– from John Donne
Erris Poetry 