In the hallway
of St. Theresa's ward
his six foot four frame
stepped slowly,
...
A hooker docked
in the basin sways
in the wake of wild swans
who nibble from the red
...
Tthe streetllamp, still aglow
casts a gloss over the footpath.
The orange light of morning gushes through the bedroom window;
your weary fingers scramble for the lightswitch,
...
The sparkle in the lough
has dulled, its luminous water
now mud green speckle,
...
I promise to tell you someday
when I can let the words
slip through the gate of my lips;
...
Where are you tonight
this first glimpse of
spring? The night all
balmy, the moon full-
...
Born in New York, Daughter of a Limerick man and a Kerry Woman. Attended Our Lady of Victory Academy and Fordham University, New School for Social Research. Now Living in Galway, Ireland. Worked as presenter, camerawoman, editor and associate producer for 'Erin Focus'and 'Irish Eyes', WNYE and 'Riverdale Report', Riverdale CATV. Also worked with the Galway Film Centre as team leader for 'Caught Offside' a short documentary on Asylum seekers in Galway 2001 and as the Shorts Coordinator for the Galway Film Fleadh,2002. Poetry has been published 'Tribe of Scribes' (2 editions) in Ireland and 'Eternal Portraits' in the States, Revival 3(White House, Limerick) Dublin Chronicle.)
St Theresa's
In the hallway
of St. Theresa's ward
his six foot four frame
stepped slowly,
aimlessly
'you all right? '
a patient asked
he stopped-
'My mother has just died'
said he,
matter of factly,
slowly,
strongly,
it was the first time he'd
ever said the phrase
one by one we rose
to hug him
automatically, wordlessly
'you only have one mother' he said
going up the hallway.
A country man
in his intimate, yet
universal moment
shared with strangers
from the city
his composure,
his quiet pain,
the far away look
in his tear flashed stare
will stay with me-
a frozen snapshot
in the album of memory
Hi Theresa...I just read your poem, 'Track'. I think this is a great write. You are a gifted writer. Have you thought about publishing a book of poetry? Lare Joseph Austin
Hi thersea. Hope alls well in galway. My email is chuckpo25@gmail.com