Delicate,
Wings like patterned paper,
Reds, oranges and gold,
Yellows and greens in shades so bold,
Flicker like a fine flame,
Softly land upon my hand,
I want to feel you breathe,
Hear your thoughts of freedom,
Flutter by dear butterfly,
Flutter by.

Honey-making precious creature,
Gliding with the wind,
The sun shining against your radiant yellow,
Your black stripes warning of your sting,
Hear the gentle buzz of your melody,
Flower to flower,
Petal to rest upon,
And skies to dream upon the breeze,
Light is fading – time for home,
To the hive – to the queen of your heart.

Stronger than my size assumes,
Small but powerful,
I climb,
I crawl,
I march in my regiment,
Never out of step.

Protected and protecting,
On parade,
See humans hunting us down,
We survive and outnumber,
They think they’re so tough,
I’ll thrive on my own terms,
Whatever the ground or soil.

I know we won't replace,
The vacant hole you once embraced,
Our hearts were full and solid gold,
Now there’s sadness and bitter cold,
You gave us love, you gave us time,
Beside us through every fall and climb,
Words can never explain the tears,
We cry now for the wasted years…

…years…

…years…

The many times we had laughed,
The emptiness can’t hope to halve,
And yet I can’t help but reflect upon,
The days and weeks and times; long gone,
But in my memory, that secret place,
Is the joy and magic I can trace,
Those times that only I can share,
With you, myself – a connection so rare…

…rare…

…rare…

Though now your soul is far away,
We’ll have thoughts of you each passing day,
Of superman at Christmas and Guinness for a saint,
The scolding of Tim Henman, that passionate complaint,
The stories of Las Vegas, and of the times we shared in France,
Will light up all our broken hearts and the mind can have its dance,
You were a special lady, we don’t want to release,
But I know that you are with us and your body is at peace…

…peace…

…peace…

(This poem was written in memory of my Nan, An Cronin.  R.I.P.)

I overcome,
I undergo,
I suffer the pain,
That no one should know,
I struggle,
I glide,
I always believe,
And I need to hide,
I welcome,
I fear,
An altering circus of emotions,
And all in a year.

Been flying but need to come down,
Hand me the rope,
Hand me the needle,
Chase the dragon and mainline,
I’m doing fine.

Colours,
Such colours,
Overwhelming red mist of bliss,
A green calm,
And people,
So many people,
Knives and guns,
After me,
I need to be free…

…

…

…jump.

It happened so fast,
A secret revealed,
A heart is shattered,
A world is changed,
A life is altered,
Loose ends and angered ropes,
The death of a thief,
Who stole to save his soul,
And all in a week.