Death becomes himself

He climbs, ivy finger'd
On the shadowy rise
Death drives His chariot
Drawn by stallions on fire

Oftimes He approaches
Silent, on velvety hooves
Toying with his prey
As the cat teases wool

Perhaps His indulgence
The warnings first sound
Foreseeing the inevitable
The fall to the ground

But I
Refuse.

Not yet
Mr. Death
Not yet

I will fight your marching
At every advance
And battle you out
To the last stance

That you will know as you claim
The remains of my earthen hide
That I have fully worn it out
Well before you arrived

Cx

Icy fingers commanding a Mistral touch
Stretched over alpine peaks and such
Was their cold descent between land and sea
A shiver came forth and she enveloped me

Hesitation's fruit - doubt to my right, uncertainty left
The soul frightened, risking happiness bereft
Waiting the moment, feeling drunk without drink
Should disappointment reign, or what would she think?

But there, the image woke to the real
She smiled past me, her beauty revealed
Doubt chose retreat, hesitation took flight
Blinded by the former, now recovering sight

Myopic observations confuse the inner eye
Programmed conclusions limit the mind
The hidden secret, well known to Youth
It's the eye of the beholder decides its own truth

Annaliffey

Stalling for time
Along St James
Anna Liffey looks back,
Noting down names

At Old Dublin's walls
The wind sighs in regret
Calling to her softly
Lest Anna forget

Her tears take in salt
With each challenged wave
As she melts in the sea
Domain of the brave

She finds final peace
Seeking her rest
In the arms of Britannia

Cobbles

I had forgotten
How the Artic wind could
Sear its path up the Dublin Quays and flood
Into the streets
Tearing the very surface off
Everything it touches

The cobbles seem to shiver and ask to be brought
Inside
The paving slabs have already resigned
To their destiny

Feet shuffle past
Ignoring the multitude of stoney beggars

It's October
Dublin has turned off
The welcome sign.

Fête des Mères

The first heard heartbeat,
Not of my own
My hidden time-harbour
Nine moons grown

We both bellowed on my arrival
At this wonder of nature
You announced your defiance
I proclaimed my future

From the blooded-knee bandage
Woven from a kiss and a word
To the wiser counsel
Most often unheard

You have watched me climb
Then fall from the bough
Then rise again
You showed me how

With each day's distraction
Beyond the struggle and strife
I'm still opening your present
This gift of life.