unesco poetry day limerick city

https://youtu.be/jyjXS1XWPN8

UNESCO World Book Day Reading, Limerick Sat 23rd April 2016

The father’s chair

The father’s chair
He sits quietly in his single armchair,
Watching his world evolve in real time,
It’s playing like a movie, no script, yet clear,
He sits quietly but still he is there,
Mother’s day is coming and there’s lots of hype,
Flowers chocolates and all things nice,
Kids away but there’s always Skype,
He sits quietly counts the price,
There is a day for fathers, less advertised,
Comments of every day is father’s day,
He worked hard never compromised,
He sits quietly has very little to say,
He has been there for all a shoulder for many,
They feed him and let him watch his T.V.
All things considered it seems so uncanny,
He sits and watches all he can see,
No one recalls when he was so ill,
At no time did he ask for their aid,
In a home full of people he sat so still,
He sits here a father with very little said,
They come now to visit and watch his chair,
His world stopped no more time,
No movie no script everything unclear,
So quiet now he no longer sits fine,
Memories of why didn’t someone ask,
Is there something you might like to do?
Perhaps get involved in some or other task,
An empty chair time stopped missing you.

worth and value

Worth and value

 

An old friend called today, stressed beyond belief,

Said they had the feeling, they were, left out in the cold,

The same feeling, they said, of suffering and grief,

Suddenly they felt useless and very old,

 

So I listened for a while, heard all it was, they had to say,

And with heavy heart, I began to think, out loud,

“Your life is not so bad, on any given day,

There are lots of things that ought to make you proud,

 

Like the sun rising each morning, to start a new page in your life,

The switch that turns the kettle on for tea,

The milk in your new fridge, and you stress because of life,

Here’s a little advice from poor old me,

 

My roof is leaking water, when it rains which is most days,

The milk is sour I have no fridge to keep it cool,

My dog’s not well he hasn’t long or so the vet, he says,

Yet I didn’t call you moaning like a fool,+

 

The rent is due, and so, my landlord, wants to meet?

No food shopping done this week, for me,

I too have bills and I juggle them but still I tap my feet,

I am alive I will get through it I am free”,

 

It’s then I realised, there was silence, on my phone,

No sound, came from, the other end,

Laughing I knew that I was talking and alone,

My credit went which is usually the trend,

 

Some cheek I thought, some friend, moaning life is oh so bad,

And them full knowing where my life is sorely at,

They should take a look about, them and of little things, be glad,

Not leading boring lives which seem so flat,

 

There are all kinds of people in life, or so I’m told,

Some who like to moan about the hurt,

Most know value before they get too old,

All know the price of things; few if any, know their worth.

A need indeed

Yes it was you, who needed me,...
So I came, each time you called,
Sorting out some or other melee,
My decision never stalled,

Yes you had need of me, it was you,
So help me, I was there in a flash,
My arrow straight, my aim always true,
To your aid, I would readily dash,

My way, you had needed, yes,
Though, not always calm or cool,
In all we did, we were blessed,
You were never to any a fool,

Later, when you needed my ear,
About what was best to do,
I held your hand, fought off the fear,
Told you, I’d always be true,

You needed me, so I was there,
At the drop of a hat, I appeared,
My mind was always clear,
It was for you, I always feared,

Whenever you called, on the phone,
I kept my promise, right through,
Together, for we were never alone,
It’s now, more than ever, I have need of you.