Desiderata

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.


Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

Steven Wilson - Remainder the Black Dog (from Grace for Drowning)

Hurricane Blues

Hurricane Blues

Natures power in all her glory

Devastating old Biloxi

Those that fled will live to tell

Of the roar that silenced the rebel yell.

New Orleans under water

Katrina howls her ruthless slaughter

Looting, killing ,crime explodes

Whose nature is this? Hers or ours?

County Jail is out of bounds

A freeway becomes the inmates home,

The streets are empty, all alone,

Welcome to the Superdome.

Basin Street, how ironic,

The Blues live on in clubs iconic,

Bourbon Street is overflowing,

Not with liquor, not with  song,

But with the drowning sorrow of a city destroyed.

*

Months have passed, the waters subside,

Welcome back to the great divide,

The flood of concern that first prevailed

Has returned itself to it’s wasp-ish grave.

Those who lost had least to lose

And yet their loss is greater felt

Delta blues will once more flower

In the face of this un-Godly power.

Alan Kerrigan

August /December 2005

Darragh & The Red Notebook

I have recently read a few books by the American writer, Paul Auster, and enjoyed them very much. On saturday morning I was in our local library and spotted one that I hadn't read so I borrowed it. One of the main recurring themes in Auster's writing is coincidence and it is something that intrigues me too. That afternoon, having scrimped and saved, I brought my youngest, Darragh, to PC World to purchase that long promised laptop/Notebook for his 16th birthday. We chose a very cool Packard Bell model in a nice shade of red. We then returned home and with Darragh happily setting up his new device, I settled down for a read of my borrowed book, The Red Notebook by Paul Auster.... :o)

Bray Harbour April 2006

As today is mothers day, I've spent some time thinking about my dear departed Mam. I wrote this poem about 6 weeks after my mother, Frances Kerrigan, passed away and to be honest , like the rest of my poetry, I have been reluctant to share it with the world. 

As my little tribute to her, I've decided that even though my poetry skills are not up to scratch, I'll send this one forth.

  My father had told me about the day he had taken my terminally ill mother out of hospital, St. Vincents Private Hospital, Dublin  for a little trip just for a change of scenery and to give her some fresh air. My parents were very, very close and often took trips together. This was to be their last and as I sat on the harbour wall in Bray, Co. Wicklow, I tried to picture the scene and to imagine how they were both feeling.........

Bray Harbour April 2006

Bray Harbour, April in the year of her Lord 2006

Blue skies spattered with wispy clouds

Small boat leans low in the tide

Yachts stand proud out of the water

Ropes clanking against masts in the gentle breeze

Idle chatter from two fishermen unsure if the catch will match their efforts

The chatter surely is more worthwhile

They watch uninterested as she is helped from the car

Wanting to run to the edge of the pier

Wrapped against the chill she smiles open-eyed

The swans gather around expectantly

She laughs as they give her their full attention

The odd duck mingled amongst them drawn to her

Watery eyes look out to sea, the same sea she grew up with

The memories mingled with the dreams and the wishes

Her childhood in Dun Laoghaire just north of here

Runs through her weakening mind

Seeming more real than her reality

The future for her is now no more

Clouds gather on the horizon appearing over Bray Head

Announcing a change, a turn for the worst

He takes her arm gently to return to the car

No not yet she implores turning to the swans to say farewell

Puzzling at how this can be possible

Hoping that it’s not so but resigned that it is

Slowly she turns toward him accepting that it’s time to go home

With an aching heart and a trembling hand he guides her to her seat

His spirit broken as she waves to the swans and the ducks

Alan Kerrigan

21/06/2006