When my father died
I did not know I had so many tears
How I cried!
My father’s hands
Coalminer’s hands
Hard skin
Miner’s pride
Those hands that held me as a child
Arrested Himmler
Brought war to an end
Held a pint
And rosary beads
A father and a friend
Do not dwell on death
Would be his creed
Face it when it comes
That’s all you need
Brian Fahy
29 December 2022
Erris Poetry 