Belfast/York/Cambridge

Constructive destruction welcome...

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d'aghaidh
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís,
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú.

Aye well, left didn't I?

A cacophony followed

"Ock aye,

but y'll be back won't ye

lad?"

Ma washing a wardrobe

for all occasions, a sea

of white linen, salt caked

shirt cuffs, starched collars

trousers rolled just how I like

'em, an her frail hands

rattling aul suitcase packed

ever so gently...

Da driving me till the station,

ain't seen the aul b*****d cry,

nat seen 'im since...

"Y'll be alright son,

remember 'ure catechism

an don't forget yer prayers"

Fifty six and counting,

grey like ma, suppose

her colour went early,

his took a little longer..

Not hard to imagine,

things don't change,

time just keeps ticking

and they just keep on

keeping on.

And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

Ah so relatable. Brought here by Emma and glad I was. Relatable and well written.

[Einstein Noodle]

glad i stopped to read...perfect timing with St. Patty raising the green ;) love the language and the character development ... me Ma and Da was the same :) God bless 'em ...and may the roads rise with you ... i think i will check out the Pig Pen ... thanks for sharing about it... and for your poem!
E.

[ALifeAquatic]

Just wanted to thank all of you for commenting on this piece. You've all been far too kind. It's been a while since this was written (I'd actually forgotten it was posted on this site) and it's actually recently seen a bit of an edit and revamp. It's not often that I check in on this account, but if anyone is interested I've been workshopping a far bit of my more recent compositions on Pig Pen Poetry, which is a great site for really improving your writing and tightening it up

[Kelly Scheppers]

I love the Irish blarney of it all! I am an Irish lass through and through, and simply fell in love with the authenticity of how this reads. A tip of me hat to ya sir, and many thanks to Emma for sending it my way!

My best,
Kelly

[barleygirl]

Thanks to Emmajoy for read requesting me on this . . . You have captured my favorite things in good writing: (1) show instead of tell . . . (2) well-detailed imagery . . . (3) very original! Like nothing I've read before! I love the way your written dialect sounds authentic & how you convey the longing & missing that are yet to come, without saying so, but just in the melancholy way these preparations are done for some upcoming departure. It's so delightfully sketchy & unique! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Dara]

I have always been fascinated with Ireland and often wish I could claim in as part of my heritage. Maybe in another life? But, this write is very touching and encompasses the Irish dialogue superbly. Your spirituality gleans through as well when you add.....
"Until we meet again
may God hold you in the hollow of His hand"
A wonderful piece, I simply loved it.

[emmajoy]

That's brilliant! You've magically created scenes and sentences with the Irish in glorious tow. Why the wotsit has nobody read this history of word and time. This is as emotional as a butterfly's passing. Will read more.