He was an open honest man
You could see it in his face
A gentleness resided there
With promises of peace
He opened Russia to the world
Dismantled years of pain
A prophet in his own house
We need his like again
He met John Paul they talked awhile
Agreed on many things
The Holy Father shared with him
The wisdom that life brings
Europe needs both lungs he said
East as much as West
To breathe with both will heal us now
And lay the past to rest
Two men of stature standing there
Men of open face
Smiling presence friendliness
Hope for human race
Where are they now those prophets?
We need their like again
To end the foolishness of these days
We need hope’s sweet refrain
Brian Fahy
31 August 2022
Erris Poetry 