Category Archives: Uncategorized

We copy what we see That’s how we learn We have copybooks at school Now my turn A boy follows his father Across the lawn His footsteps in his father’s I saw one morn   Jesus in the villages Speaks his living word And brings his healing touch Wherever he is heard Then sends hisContinue reading “Copy”

Catholic and Protestant Green against the Blue Celtic versus Rangers Helluva hullaballoo   Sacred Heart against Saint Anne’s Hindsford’s Civil War Put the boot in harder Win or lose don’t draw   Russia versus Nato East against the West Your very existence Threatens my interest   Rivalry is one thing Noisy neighbours two But idioticContinue reading “Me and You”

What stories can I tell of my first days? Only what my mother told to me How we lived in an attic room In Aunty Katie’s house Across the road from where the film star lived Robert Donat many years before And how the winter cold drove me to the bottom of my pram AndContinue reading “Early Days”

Tyldesley town was terraces Coal mines cotton mills Rows and rows of red brick Red step and polished sills Two up two down narrow streets Back yard outside loo Rag and bone on cobbled streets Nothing there to view   When the war was over Wimpeys came to town Or rather came to Shakerley OpenedContinue reading “Home Ground”

(Jairus means ‘God who awakens, or God who enlightens.’)   Sometimes we lose hope Sometimes our hope dies All we lived and longed for Tears now fill our eyes   Sunshine’s early morning Turned to grey at noon Evening brings more shadows Night time spells our doom   We need a touch to lighten usContinue reading “Jairus”

Saw blue sky today And remembered happiness And summer holidays in the glen And daddy’s smiling face   Now I see that sky again Catch that glimpse of blue Peacefulness is all around Can it now be true?   Was it standing at the grave? Michael by my side That blowing wind strong westerly BlewContinue reading “A Glimpse of Blue”

The Gadarene Swine Magnificent mouthful of a phrase Wrap your tongue around it spit it out Bestow it on your enemy with glee Elegant and elongated words Delight us when we want to damn our foe ‘Get goo-ing and get gone’ we said of old In Tyldesley when our anger was unfurled   But IContinue reading “Swine”

Belfast Port Stena Line We disembarked and drove Through zigzag streets and on to motorway Then find fourth gear and drive Leave the place behind I have never known it Neither cruel nor kind   But another time I went another way Landing in Larne We headed towards Lough Neagh Magherafelt met me A multitudeContinue reading “Belfast”

  In their defence They are just like us – the Nazarenes We’ve done a background check they say We know who you are Trained as a carpenter Now you come back here Parading yourself as a preacher And expect us to listen to you   Jesus knows that too They won’t listen Well theyContinue reading “Can You See Me?”

Public school for those of private means Moneyed people the toffs the ruling class Special education university Access to position in society Keep it in the family Money most of all   Church needs priests Start a seminary Round up boys from home Incarcerate Keep them from the girls Help them morph through time ToContinue reading “Serving The System”

We stood beside her grave today She would be 57 My son and I together Margaret in heaven   I told my son what I believe He knows it anyway Not just because of faith I said But everything points that way   Goodness truth and beauty Justice too and love Such powerful realities PointContinue reading “At Margaret’s Grave”

An old man has died in Erris He was 91 Pap Coyle his name I think I might have met him once A long time ago I knew his sister, Mamie Coyle In London long ago Knew his nephew Steven And in the notices today I see Mamie is still alive Thank God for MidContinue reading “A Gentleman of Geesala”

She found a shelter from the wind Coming down from Ben MacDui A massive rock on the mountainside Placed there by God knows who And in that shelter shelter more Survival blankets left by whom? Thoughtful people on the climb Who know how the wind can blow   Disturbed by fog and getting dark SheContinue reading “Shelter”

My job was to listen to people And if I could respond My job was to talk to people Make a helpful sound   The longer that I did it The better I became You learn a lot by doing You don’t just stay the same   And people they empowered me They trusted meContinue reading “Tools of the Trade”

I imagine the seanchai in Ireland On winter’s nights around a burning flame Bright faces eager for the story What happened then was it truth or game?   I see my grandsons eager for a story Show me read me tell me all the tale I read Harry Potter to our Michael And made upContinue reading “Tell Me A Story”