Category Archives: Uncategorized

  I go to mass online everyday Especially to hear the sermon The word of God now broke Being a preacher was my aim in life Still is and so I write Where once I spoke   The Gospel is the key to every life It opens up the mystery Helps us understand Teaches usContinue reading “Keep The Faith”

He won’t call me I’m the lowest of the low Even my own people Do not want to know So I sit here at my table And count the money in Everyone despises me What I do is sin   And suddenly he calls me I do not need to think Certainly I’ll join himContinue reading “Call of the Tax Collector”

War belonged to yesterday To 1945 And war belonged to faraway Vietnam Afghanistan And war belonged to cinema Remember The Longest Day Now war is on our doorstep And will not go away   And all the bombs are falling And setting fire to homes And citizens are calling Do not leave us alone UkraineContinue reading “War Is Here”

An old photograph Main St Bangor Erris The row of houses Reilly’s petrol pump The door into the shop Where mammy bought the food The window of the parlour Where we children sipped lemonade And waited for Tom Conmy To bring the Vanguard car Don’t come too soon said Uncle Hugh You know where weContinue reading “An Old Photograph”

It is the bigger picture The counter-facing foe ‘Democracy the enemy Nato has to go’   This is not a war between The evil and the good Do not demonise the foe Better to be understood   We’re not angels on this side We have our faults as well So understand your enemy Look forContinue reading “Love Your Enemy”

Fasting belongs to times of sorrow And this is such a time The suffering of Ukraine goes on Will they see tomorrow?   Fast from feasting and give to those Who live with empty shelves Fast from careless words also Become our better selves   Fast from anger let us be Calm in the faceContinue reading “Fasting Really Helps”

  I wear a coat my brother gave to me A flat cap – Foxford Woollen Mills – Our Tricia picked for me A warm scarf round my neck That Sheila sent to me Dressed in sibling finery I’m as warm as warm can be   We were a close-knit family Four children Mum andContinue reading “Family Warmth”

We’re no angels We bombed Iraq Not in our name we said We did it all the same The shock and awe attack   And Black and Tans in Ireland Suppressing a revolt You’re part of the British Empire Do not be a dolt   So everyone finds a reason For acting as they doContinue reading “Cease Fire”

Willesden London Where he died So very faraway But he’s coming home in a coffin box Finally home to stay   Willesden London Crowded house Endless streets and roads Houses, houses everywhere Work and heavy loads   Willesden London All his years Working with his hands A little flat at end of day Home inContinue reading “Exile’s Return”

If I was still a preacher What would my sermon be today? Mulling over scripture And the things the Lord does say Says his life is suffering Talks about a cross So much suffering in this world Grief and so much loss   Every life knows sorrow Some from the very start Thinking of LemnContinue reading “Suffering”

What we did to Germany was awful What they did to us was awful too The bombing of the cities Civilians terrorised Coventry Hamburg Dresden Terror from the skies   Once a war has started Hell is multiplied More and more join in the fight Millions have died World wars went on for years UntilContinue reading “Boycott”

They stood beside the cross What could they do? Could not take him down Till it was through An innocent they nailed upon a tree They say he died To rescue you and me   He was damned He was called the sin The propaganda worked The crowd was taken in ‘Crucify’ the slogan onContinue reading “At The Cross”

At the end of day The sisters gather round Adoration of the Lord and then night prayer All is silent A chapel like a shroud Wraps around the day about to end   And I at 75 The evening of my life Come back to my beginning And the Lord Nothing further matters now JustContinue reading “Prayer at Close of Day”

David’s day Daffodils and spring Around the corner what will this year bring? Brightness of blue skies and everything We could hope for But for Mister Putin   Oh he brings dark skies And warring noise Claims he has the right He has the toys! A man alone fearful of the crowd Europe on hisContinue reading “Prospects Drear”

Like balloons Full of air and flying Our happy life goes on from day to day But when depression strikes us Deflated we fall to earth Withdrawn within the cave of self Struck dumb we cannot talk   Others try to help us Give reasons we should live Encourage or cajole us Would give ifContinue reading “Desert of Depression”