superhero moms

For mothers on mother’s day

 

Warden style

 

She used to do the washing by the sink in our upstairs kitchen,

Stood there like a prison warden all knowing all seeing,

There were a lot of us little prisoners mostly fighting or bitching,

She’d let out a roar which would send the lot of us fleeing,

Yet, there was no escaping this warden of the masses,

For held every tool known to mankind,

No misdemeanour escaped her all seeing glasses,

If you were involved, she knew it, and soon you, she would find,

We believed she could see through walls,

She also heard noises before we could make them,

Just before you were to get up to something she called,

And god help you if you if to her you hadn’t ran,

Get your arse over here to this sink she’d say,

So I can look into your blackening soul,

“Shit” you knew you were caught; there was nothing you could say,

 As your mind sank deeper into that guilty hole,

“Wait until your father gets home and I tell him what you did,”

Somehow you knew it was either the boot or the strap,

And long before he got home you were hours just hid,

It was as if no matter what she had you always in her trap,

We knew all about super heroes with super powers from comic books,

If people knew we had them walking up and down our block every day,

Yet you could never tell unless you knew how to look,

Every mother with one look had a multitude of things to say,

Those balla flats had twelve families all with their own superhero,

No matter what you did or where you went in limerick city they knew,

Without leaving the house whatever you did they’d know

They even changed into a little bird and we believed they flew.

close enough to be far away

Close enough to be far away

 

It must have been a race but no one told me,

From start to finish all the lanes may have been filled,

Where it took place was so much a mystery,

It may have been a relay at times, ye’re batons never spilled,

Well no one bothered to inform me,

 

I thought I was part of the team,

At least that was how it was supposed to be run,

Yet your rule book was so different from the one I’d seen,

All together running and you all were having the fun,

On show for years yet I was nowhere to be seen,

 

Was it a race and if so why didn’t I know?

I spoke to you all almost every week,

I would have partaken if I was asked to go,

But in plain sight you played hide and seek,

Ye’re relationships all strong mine a no go,

 

Running round in groups and if I called, always one on one,

Placating me with platitudes agreeing with my every word,

It was a race alright, but one which I could never have run,

I’m wired differently then you or so I have heard,

So much so, I am not included in your version of fun,

 

It’s too late now I guess you are happy with your race,

No room for someone wired like me,

Keep running together, I am what you cannot face,

I am all you can’t or won’t ever want to see,

I am past I am present I am that place,

 

If it’s a race then I was shoved out,

Simply put, I am all you wish to forget,

In your hurry to run you whisper not shout,

You will forever be caught in my net,

You will see me in every race running about,

 

Just on the edge of your peripheral vision,

A worry that seems distant from you now,

Most likely a group taken decision,

Omitted from inclusion somehow,

Close enough to be distant, by omission.

replaceable

Replaceable

 

 

Standing on the corner of the world, looking down on your planet,

Are you a god into humanity hurled? Watching us procreate and man it,

 

Believing only you have the right, to allow your subjects to think,

Any upset will feel your wrath and might, fear hovering on the brink,

 

Annihilation for those who withstand, any call you decide, you will make,

It’s your world albeit manned, but your throne they want to take,

 

Oh, you will show them who is boss, on dying breath you will never concede,

You don’t care the cost or loss, upon your death only, your throne be freed,

 

For you are master of all stood there, they know not of anything lest you decree,

As you rule with word and fear, some minions look and truly see,

 

Beware the calf who drinks too much, his body grows large and strong,

He needs no help to drink as such; his aim is firm his journey long,

 

He bides his time and watches well, an ageing god who lowers his guard,

You, that cow dried up, he’ll fell, and with ease it will not be hard,

 

So stand there on your corner proud, survey all that you can see,

Listen hard to the silence loud, your subjects long are free,

 

No god are you over any man, they see just what you are,

Your throne be filled because any can, your are but a falling star,

 

Beware the feeling only you are right, those about you, always wrong,

Behind you, for your throne will fight, your replacement won’t be so long.

not sure if this is finished but it's a thought i guess

Men won’t talk?

 

Sure we can talk the cross off an ass’s back, can us men,

Our use of diction and local dialect is second to none,

Sort out issues with whole countries, since time began,

Take everything in our stride; make it seem like fun,

Be the life and soul of any gig or party,

 

Perhaps it’s just the way we Irish are reared,

Men are strong, hard decision makers, and in charge,

Women are soft, to be treasured for and cared,

A force of nature us men by and large,

Yet hiding a need to be heard by anyone,

 

Brought up to work hard, marry, be a family man,

A pillar of any given community, stood tall,

Taught to stand firm, fight for good if we can,

Men are to be peers to those who follow and never fall,

Surrounded by people, yet no one to talk to,

 

Sat in a pub, having a good old hearty laugh with the lads,

Expert in everything from politics to rocket science and more,

Discussing all from fashion to fads,

Protectors of values men stand to the fore,

Like scared children afraid to show any sign of weakness,

 

At the first sign of doubt, men dismiss it as soft thought,

Any idea of something that may cause worry,

Barriers go up and no way will men be caught,

Lacking in manly duties, finding it hard, so hard to say sorry,

A tough exterior is all anyone will see,

 

Men, the life and soul of any gig, or party they go to,

Always hiding a need to be heard, by someone, anyone,

Surrounded by people, yet no one to talk things through,

Scared that they will be seen as the weakest one,

Decision made, preferring death, then face our version of truth.

enough go quietly enda kenny joan burton

Enough go quietly

 

No, I will not go quietly without having my say,

I have listened to your words beating me down,

Yes I will go, but not on your say,

If I stay, I surely will, under your words drown,

But I will not go quietly,

 

You, who are self-proclaimed know it all’s,

Shouting your rhetoric from your podium,

No, you will not see me fall,

I have found my voice I know who I am,

You can push but I will not go quietly,

 

Use all your tricks, for I have seen them at play,

Too long I have sat in my quiet little box,

No longer do you have anything of worth to say,

I have taken way too many of your hard knocks,

I am awake and will not go quietly,

 

Having woken from my long suffering slumber,

Taken all the tough times you have dished out,

Thought long and hard I now have your number,

What once was a whisper has grown into a shout,

Perhaps I will go but you will be leaving quietly,

 

You have poked this sleeping beast once too often,

And had no response for far too long,

The anger festered and will not now soften,

Noisily singing a different song,

As you leave look back this beast is awake,

 

No more bending to your do or die rule,

Nor your use of tactics best kept for war,

This once sleeping beast is no such fool,

You are no leader you have gone too far,

Say farewell now it’s time to go quietly.

Christy O'Donnell ,Humour in Poetry.: Behind those eyes

Christy O'Donnell ,Humour in Poetry.: Behind those eyes: Behind those eyes   Deep behind those eyes you stare with intent, Hidden thoughts, of those things you always wanted to do, ...

Behind those eyes

Behind those eyes

 

Deep behind those eyes you stare with intent,

Hidden thoughts, of those things you always wanted to do,

Wonderful times when you appeared so content,

Happy go lucky, that was you,

 

Underneath that brow lurked a somewhat joyful youth,

The times you had the places you had been,

I guess we both always told each other the truth,

For behind your eyes are the same things I have seen,

 

So many times I was there to help and guide,

Taught you how to make them all smile,

To me you could never have lied,

No matter how much you used your guile,

 

And even when the truth hurt you to say,

Things were all mixed up in your mind,

I was there to ask if you needed a place to stay,

You knew how easy I was always to find,

 

Your determination was a sight to behold,

In everything you tried and every job you held,

Yet something in those eyes went cold,

Something strange therein had dwelled,

 

You are gone now no longer here,

Missed by more than you will ever know,

What lurked behind your eyes was fear,

The sight clouded when you decided to go,

 

Happy go lucky, that was always you,

So much our eyes have together seen,

I miss your cheeky smile you know,

All I can see now is what could have been.