Easter
White clouds drift across a clear blue sky and
McNamara’s crane like the arm of a giant crucifix
Stretches over the rising walls of a brand-new office block.
Our lands once more to be bright , beautiful and plentiful.
Song of songs sings,
“Now the Winter is past, the rain is over and gone,
the flowers appear on the earth; a time of singing has come”
What flower garden or song for Robert, eyes down,
his small, pointed, freckled face, pale and pinched
as he sits in his cardboard carpeted shelter
across the road from McNamara’s giant crane.
“He’s too young to be homeless “ says Annabelle aged six.
In a steady stream of polished shoes, executive footfall.
High heels tapping, coattails flapping, fat legs and thin,
constant chattering, faces unseen , these dancers of the street
don’t stop as they drop coppers into a small paper cup.
Easter, Christian families ,pascal candles, resurrection
Peshah, remembering lamb , bread and bitter herbs.
Nature trumpeting a message of hope and celebration,
Bonnets, egg hunts, holidays, and the bells ring out Alleluia
“What about Robert?” says Andrew aged four.
He sits in the shadow of the giant crucifix
As the bells ring and clouds drift across a clear blue sky.
Anna was inspired to write the above poem following a Passover Meal in Dundalk, with Tom and the Chokmah group. The following few days were spent in Dublin.visiting with her young grandchildren. She was greatly affected by the lingering ‘spirit’ of the Passover and the compassion shown by the children towards a young homeless man whom they had befriended.