Author Archives: tyldesleyboy

My nephew John a bakerHas a boatAnd when not baking breadHe can be foundAfloat on his boatJust off Bembridge soundGuarding approachesTo our land My brother MichaelCaptain for the DayAlison asternJohn at the helmRounding Priory BayA beer and then awayHome to have a jollyBarbeque Not too far awayBut long agoMy father, MichaelSat upon those seasSomething theyContinue reading “The Bembridge Sailor”

I found a beaten pathSo said I’ll followThe feet of othersWalked this way beforeThe path a certain signIt will not me declineI’ll follow itTo a certain shore The path led onI found a place to sitA wooden benchPrepared for travellersA seat beside a railway lineA grandstand seat to viewThe passing trainsAnd passing buses too TheContinue reading “The Beaten Path”

Easter weekFor a certain timeMeant one thing onlyLourdes HCPTThe shrine Going thereGroup 54One weekFelt like familyWe had childrenTo takeAnd look afterHotelIn the streetShops and cafesRiver GaveQuite deepDramatic mountainsBackdrop reaching highGavarnie rideValley in the sky And the grotto caveMary’s placeThronged yet silentCandle flickering graceWaters of the GavePassing byBaths to visitCome out fairly dry Climbing upFor StationsContinue reading “Lourdes”

Who would stealStations of the Cross?And why?For money?Private possession?I’m at a loss Still they are goneAnd now they are replacedAnd in a placeWhere war one timeHad ceasedAnd prisoners of warSwept up on African sandsMade a sea journeyTo this northern climeAnd found themselvesWar labourBarriers to buildAfter the U-boat goneAnd Royal Oak sent to the bottom ofContinue reading “Chapel At Lamb Holm”

A light grey mistEarly morning blanketSits on treetopsMaking foliage fadeOut in the roadI look for familiar facesDumyat drownedIn mist by river laid First impressionsLike a morning mistGive us outlinesFirmer facets hideOnly when the sunIs risen higherRumours dismissedWe see a truer side Brian Fahy30 May 2021

Chelsea played a game so tightNot even Pep could see the lightOr find a wayThrough that defensive thicketTheir lines togetherNo one could severTuchel’s team’s endeavourIntent they were to snick it Raheem and RiyadOn the wingsCould dance and do their pretty thingsThey shall not passThe order of the dayAnd no big centre forward thereTo cause aContinue reading “How To Play The Game”

Opening the blindsAnd I saw mistOkay if you insistMist it shall beAnd mysteryToday the feast ofThe Trinity I had a look at Church-TVAnd I’d missed MassMany times I seeHow many sins in that collection!Far beyond my recollection Early morningDay before mePeaceful houseI don’t snore me!Yes I doAfraid to sayBut no one hereTo record or playContinue reading “The Beautiful Game”

Black framed photoLouisburgIrish Wild FlowersIn a woodMargaret I saidAnd bought it In my loungeOn my wallWhere Margaret used to beIrish Wild FlowerBeautifulLooking back at me Lovely girlGood to meetOpen friendly faceIrish Wild FlowerMargaretI had foundMy grace Brian Fahy29 May 2021

‘Some people don’t deserve compassion’I am sorry but I have to disagreeAnyone in the grip of evilNeeds every help if they are to be free I appreciate the horror and revulsionI feel it too – monstrous enormityToo horrible for words some folk’s compulsionFor cruelty, heartless brutality But write-offs are not a gospel factorWe cannot leaveContinue reading “Hard Truth”

Matthew 28:16-20 It was a three-line whip in the old daysA demanding churchThings you had to doMass on SundayMiss and mortal sinRegular confessionGet them inFish on FridayThat’s okay the chippyGive up for LentGet your ashes tooWalk in processionsWhen it’s WhitsunLet the others knowWe’re the crew There are demands in lifeThere’s no denyingGood must be doneAContinue reading “Disciples”

Jesus is in JerusalemHe’s been throwing chairs aroundThe local politicians want to knowOn whose authority you do these thingsWho gave you permission?Jesus doesn’t answer them at all They are not there to question himBut rather to dismissTo get the blighter off their chosen patchBut Jesus happy to engageAsks a question to enrageThe chief priests cannotContinue reading “Power”

Unused to Italian ways I saidThree things I’ll never doKiss men on either cheekWalk arm in arm with menOr eat spaghetti vongoleOkay? Oh dear I did all three! A trip down southAt TerracinaYoung men came to greet meKissing me on both cheeksSo glad to see me thereNext day in AmalfiPasquale walks with meArm in armContinue reading “Forza Italia”

The road not taken in my youthMet me in the endThe road I took I did not chooseI obeyed a priest and came to loseMy home my family and my friend Jesus the attractive newsPriesthood was suggestedBut priestly things did not enthuseI simply did the priestly duesYou never would have guessed it The faithful threadContinue reading “Two Roads Diverged”

High up in a standSpectacular privileged viewOld Trafford ManchesterCricket dayA sacred ritual unfoldsBelow my wondering gazeEngland v AustraliaThe game The pitch a sacred sanctuaryThe green sward a naveThe players all are celebrantsOn viewThe congregation gatheredPew on circling pewSinging their hosannas to their team Out beyond I see the fieldsOf Cheshire DerbyshireQuietly listeningTo radio commentaryAnd hereContinue reading “The Sacred Game”

I have an easy chairA reclinerI go to sleep thereEvery afternoonMy grandson NoahAlso puts his head downMind you he’s twoThat’s very much in tune I guess that meansI’m now in second childhoodSleeping as my grandson sleepsRound noonAs long as I keep goingThat’s the main thingI want to be aroundTo see him bloom Margaret got herContinue reading “Nodding With Noah”