An Abundance Of Mist

 

if I remember rightly,
the spray undid my curls,
the fountain mocking us

for making it star in
our autumn wedding, for
snuggling up too close.

my dear papa hid behind
the lens, the camera
his crutch, desperate to

focus on the smiles, to
have a task away from
mama’s tear-swollen face.

now we’re back after all
this time, our own baby
happily immortalized in

the same spot, believing
our years of good luck
came from that fountain.

as my sweet man captures
the embrace, I watch from
a distance, finding myself

no longer immune to tears,
hoping with all my heart
for an abundance of mist.



© Copyright, 2007. Seamus Kearney. Poem and photograph.

There'll Be Two

 

two moons will manifest,
medallions in a purple sky,
so while one illuminates

a country lane, the other
guides a stray fisherman
back to familiar shores.

there’ll be two willows,
laughing in the breeze,
so while one protects

delicate baby finches,
the limbs of the other
become climbing ropes.

two flowers will rise,
burgeoning with colour,
so while one is plucked

to offer some comfort,
the other willingly
surrenders to bees.

there’ll be two rivers,
forging their own paths,
so while one might slow

down to broaden and
explore, the other gives
way to vital rapids.



This year we became the godparents of the little delights above - Roman and Simon - and this is dedicated to them. But this is also a poem for twins everywhere.

© Copyright, 2007. Seamus Kearney.