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The splendour of Saint Peter’s Beautiful symmetry Walls so tall Man so small Fitting poetry   I walked through there with Margaret On our honeymoon A place I often visited Trying to be in tune   Now on this holy New Year’s Eve People gather there To thank the Lord for everything To ask againContinue reading “Vespers in the Vatican”

Last day last word Obituary day Faces of those now gone from us Gone now gone away Gone and not forgotten Those we loved the most But in that old time way of it Given up the ghost   That’s just a shell She is not there I often heard it said The spirit hasContinue reading “The Last Day”

I watched the film Shadowlands again It makes me cry because the story’s mine I was the academic cocooned well from the world Margaret the lass whose love my heart had stirred   Like Lewis I was slow to realise How much I needed her be by her side She read me like Debra Winger in theContinue reading “The Deal”

The only Rogers that I knew was Roy Now this one comes along His name is Fred And he is dead But they made a film about him I’ve just seen With Tom Hanks distant cousin on the screen   At first I was wary of that smile Ultra positive people make me run aContinue reading “Feelings”

I found it at a parish jumble sale Vivid picture of Alfred on the cover A Ladybird book brilliant brilliant stuff History how to learn it best way ever   Now today another vivid picture Mosaic in a field of Rutland clay Roman villa now revealed in splendour What style they had there then backContinue reading “Vivid Faces”

  I have a map of Erris on my wall My mother’s place land of her footfall Bare feet that beat a daily path to school Across the bog the river waters cool   The edge of the world was my mother’s home A northwest corner surrounded by the foam Atlantic rollers crashing onto landContinue reading “Map and Memory”

Emotional insecurity Margaret of Argyll A beauty much sought after Men lined up in file Pregnant when fifteen years old David Niven’s child Secret termination Begins a life so wild   Ian Douglas Campbell Prisoner of War Captured at St Valery Five year unknown scar Returns a cold unfeeling man His castle needing money HeavyContinue reading “The Human Story”

  I often saw her at her mother’s grave Arranging flowers there as I passed by I saw the Italian name and asked from where Monte Casino – beautiful place said I   Beautiful place famous monastery Deep blue hills around not far from sea Place of brutal slaughter in ‘44 I sat there inContinue reading “The Living And The Dead”

  I have never really liked New Year Waiting for the bells to chime Never liked Midnight Mass Way past my bed time   Midnight hour finds me asleep Cosy warm in bed Getting my eight hours in Night prayers duly said   Enjoyed a party in my youth Enjoyed a pint of beer AContinue reading “We Are Not Victims”

On seeing someone pass by my window I used to feel alone Not anymore Now I feel content Though no one knocks my door Connecting lines I have The bus the phone And prayer withal The Holy Name intone   The work of God to do That is my task To talk to you YouContinue reading “Passer By”

Christmas viewing Margaret of Argyll Well Claire Foy actually Playing her in style She used to be the Queen you know One played her very well Those doe eyes blue The ruby lips Now she’s Jezebel   And cricket played down under Collapse I hear the word Describing England’s fortunes Predictable absurd The Aussies ruleContinue reading “Daily Life”

A man who loved the mountains A Munro mountaineer His photo shows a gentle face A man of pleasant cheer   A day out in Glen Nevis Aonach Mor to climb He sent a text from Aonach Beag On top and doing fine   And then no more was heard of him Search party sentContinue reading “A Walk In The Hills”

Memories of my father I write down for my son That he may know the man he was Know whom he came from   Absorbing more than stories But grace passed on in kind Through me my father and my son Find their lives entwined   So John writes in his letter About the manContinue reading “Saint John”

Flickering faces on a screen The ending of the year Those we shall not see again Those we once held dear   Tutu dies on Boxing Day Hero of a nation Love your enemy he said It will ruin his reputation   Hogmanay is coming soon The Scottish take on Christmas With Auld Lang SyneContinue reading “The Passing Year”

When my dad was dying He couldn’t speak a word Messages from heart and mind Silent and unheard Except for when my heart filled up Almost overcome He spoke my name to comfort me A father to his son   Four days he lay within his bed Four days silent still But he wasn’t doingContinue reading “The Waiting Game”