Mass was said at seven
But we moved it to midday
We didn’t face the altar
But turned the other way
We didn’t mumble Latin
We used the English tongue
And all this happened long ago
In days when I was young
The quiet solid settled church
I entered as a lad
Changed overnight to noisiness
An unfamiliar sight
The hush of holy sacrifice
Replaced by loud guitars
And folk all in a circle
Not looking at the stars
The key to governing my life
I felt I’d given away
When taking vows so serious
Vows that make you stay
I should have left
I should have walked
But the world seemed far away
And I’d been walking down this road
Since the very break of day
The world is not a perfect place
Many things are wrong
And growing up and learning
Can be a painful song
But if you’ve known love as a child
Foundations have been laid
You’ll build your own house one day
Your parents’ love has paid
Brian Fahy
4 December 2021
Erris Poetry 