I lifted my phone
And heard my sister sobbing
She’s gone, Brian, she’s gone
I heard her say
Half one in the morning
She had stayed with her all night
Held her hand until the end
Till she was out of sight
She always does that my sister
Stands at the gate and waves
And watches till the car escapes from view
Like we did as children
The day we’d leave the glen
Looking back at the old place
Till we’d round the turn
And mammy in her work days
In the old folks home
Sat through the night and held the hand
Of old ones going home
Folk for whom no one came
Neither visited or stayed
Mammy kept the vigil
Mammy stayed and prayed
Saint Joseph spouse of Mary
Our patron when we die
Francis now reminds us
Think of him and pray
Pray for a good and peaceful end
Help others in your turn
As we live so let us die
Together not alone
Brian Fahy
9 February 2022
Erris Poetry 