Category Archives: Uncategorized

Repression Is only ever a waiting game What’s been pressed down Will one day just explode Hidden things Must one day see the light Secrets Will be revealed to sight   My life was repressed Thanks to the Church Removed me from this world At age eleven Put me in a cage No world couldContinue reading “Human Trauma”

Today is a day for quietness Stillness in my heart Looking at a precious photograph Like soldiers ever marching While solemn music plays Passing by a silent Cenotaph   Remembering lost comrades Buried far away Lying quiet in a foreign field I remember Margaret Comrade of my days The lovely lass who taught my heartContinue reading “In MemoriamMargaret Fahy (1965 – 2012)”

Why go to Jerusalem? Why set out at all? Why this preaching game in Galilee? If you know the end game If you see the cross Why not stay at home And have your tea?   What’s the point of preaching? If people turn away Why this God in flesh this mystery? Constant opposition ScribesContinue reading “Prophecy And Passion”

He scored a cracking goal There’s no denying And the header down and up into the net Rotherham beat us But there’s no use crying Learn a lesson – to come the best is yet…   Twenty thousand faithful were assembled Family Day come celebrate the team But them Yorkshire lads They came with otherContinue reading “Bring Me Sunshine”

My son visited Notre Dame The time he got engaged And lit a candle for his Mum On that medieval stage Brought home the plastic top for me A souvenir of that act His love for his dear mother A monumental fact   Magnificent cathedral Ile de la Cite Heart and centre History of FranceContinue reading “Je Vous Salue Marie”

A ‘United Ireland’ always the dream For many a one like me But a million Ulster Protestants Say hold on that cannot be And many died contesting it Many a brutal day God forbid that we forget And mayhem has its way   But a system rigged to suit one side Is never bringing joyContinue reading “Honest Policy”

My Nanna died when I was ten I remember how she smiled How she welcomed us within Her meat and potato pie a sin Her cosy home so warm I was beguiled   My father’s mother Maggie Trumble Lovely Nanna warm and humble A pastry cook she was beyond compare My mammy praised her cookingContinue reading “Meat And Potato Pie”

Have you heard of Beaufort’s Dyke? It’s new to me A deep ravine beneath the Irish Sea A thousand feet and two miles wide Thirty miles long a great divide Between Galloway and the Northern Ireland coast   It is also a munitions dump Millions of tons of military stuff Chemical and radioactive mind AllContinue reading “Deep Divides”

Foul abuse was hurled at him And so the Kung Fu kick Nationality and his mother both abused Eric Cantona in full flight Answers back with all his might Officialdom proclaims, ‘We’re not amused’   I must confess I find delight In seeing Eric in full flight Things beyond endurance we respond Officials take theContinue reading “A Kick In Time”

Nine years have passed Since Margaret died Nine years 19th September I lived in grief for quite some time More than I care to remember I struggled to find a purpose Or a meaning to go on I wrote of how I missed her A sad unending song I lost my energy for life Her deathContinue reading “A Long Day’s Journey Into Light”

City of Aachen November ‘44 Reconstruction placed now in his hands Architect Hans Swippert Stands upon the floor ‘The dignity of labour’ This he must restore   Forced workers and slave labour This has been the creed Work the people Work them till they cry Keep them at the coalface Lash them when they slackContinue reading “Dignity”

  Luke 7:36-50   A woman wept at Jesus’ feet Why would she do that? Why this outpouring of love From a woman of the street What story does she have to tell? What tragedy is there? What has she heard that brings her here? Her whole life now to air   Mine host isContinue reading “Homily For Today”

  I read about the war And what it did The human cost in misery and pain The countless untold stories Of lives cut short forgot And we like to say Never, never again   My father was not interested In medals He left the war behind Left it for good Reunion of old palsContinue reading “Engagement”

Morning mist feather light Covers our sleepy valley Ochil Hills and River Forth Railway coming from the north Damp green fields Where once was fought The battle Bannockburn   In my cosy room I lie Morning mist a lullaby Double duvet cast around my bed Getting old and hibernating It still autumn agitating Winter notContinue reading “Early Morning Mist”

  It started on the ‘Bottom Field’ Then on Hindsford Park Then down Printshop Where Hindsford FC played Then the splendour of Alder House Home to Atherton Colls Where Chow Bent entertained The Sacred Heart   Then the day I went to Burnden Park All of seven years old Followed those Wanderers ever since TheContinue reading “Theatres of Dreams”