I was introduced to death
As an altar boy in church
I carried the holy water for the priest
We went to Tyldesley cemetery
Coffin went in the ground
I went back to class and took my seat
My father was introduced to death
On Africa’s burning sands
Saw a Scot’s lad drink himself to death
Saw bodies strewn on D-Day sand
And bodies all through France
Shot a boy to death a sad demand
My father had no time for death
It’s life that we are given
Live each day and be as best you can
And when it comes a-knocking
Prepare for what will be
And yield your soul to God
And be a man
The Assumption of Our Lady
The mother of the Lord
The day she died
The day she went to God
She stood beside the cross of Christ
Beside her own dear son
And beside us all
When our own time will come
Brian Fahy
14 August 2022
Erris Poetry 