A bow of the head
Bow from the waist
Curtsey genuflect
Whisper a prayer of blessing, Ma’am
Kiss of farewell instead
Solemn faces
Wipe a tear
Ever moving line
Then the RCs sign of the cross
There goes one of mine
Playing ‘Spot the Catholic’
Easy game to play
Sign of the cross is what we do
Even from our first day
Every tradition has its own
Sign of the cross is ours
All are signs of reverence
The Cross the Lord’s own power
It signifies his suffering
On Calvary that day
And pointed to our heavenly hope
As life blood flowed away
Better it is to suffer
Than cause another pain
For through this vale of suffering
The joys of God we gain
Brian Fahy
17 September 2022
Erris Poetry 