Séamus Kavanagh's Poetry

I have published a selection of some of Séamus Kavanagh's poetry composed during the “Lockdown” of the 2020/2021 pandemic. Séamus is a member of the Wicklow Branch and you may view his writings under the Wicklow Branch website.

A Year of Hope

2021 A Year of Hope

As we turn the calendar's last page,

As the bells ring out so clear,

No looking back, No pondering,

Let Hope ring in the year

There's a virgin page to write on,

There's stories still untold,

There's hi-jinks and new adventures

In lives not now on hold.

There's an open road with no restraint,

Where freedom's not in miles,

No apps to set the boundaries,

No facts, No masks, No files

There's shopping sprees and dining out,

There is wine and there is beer,

There's "Pontificating" in the bar,

There's handshakes without fear.

There's walking ,talking, sharing,

When we get to meet again,

There's BBQs and picnics,

There's dancing in the rain!

There's photos to be taken,

Memories to be made,

And locked inside each heart,

From where they'll never fade.

There's holidays to plan,

There's cocktails in the sun,

There's loungers and sun tanning,

As we catch up on so much fun.

There'll be open doors of welcome,

There for all to see

There'll be open arms encircling

Our loved ones, now we're free.

Let us look to the future,

There is no future in the past,

And a world now free of virus,

And a freedom that will last.

5km of Hope

Hedge parsley formed  " A Guard of Honour"

On each side of the road, 

As cocooning chains were loosened,

On my 5km of hope. 

Each hedgerow was a pageant,

Of flowers I'd long forgot,

As I recalled the childhood story,

Of how God named the "forget-me- not"

Gorse, like golden jigsaw pieces,

Dotted a landscape serene,

While every field was smartly dressed,

In a coat of sparkling green.

Somewhere in the "Hollow"

I heard the cuckoo call,

And though summers chase each other,

It doesn't change at all.

From a leafy branch of a chestnut tree

Came music, pure ,sublime

As a blackbird sang for all to hear,

A song as old as time.

I heard the sound of tractors,

And children at their play,

And realised how much I'd missed

The sounds of every day.

With a lighter heart I turned for home,

My spirits much relieved,

For now I knew there's always hope,

For those that still believe.

The Phone Call

The phone bell breaks the silence,

And echoes down the hall.

He makes it from the kitchen

In time to take the call.

Some days he is silent,

Lost in a memory,

As he remembers other days,

And the way things used to be.

Some days he feels the love,

Coming down the line

"Hi dad just checking how you're doing?"

And those days he feels fine!

Some days are filled with questions,

Of "When" and "Where" and "How"

Of friends of other days,

And wonders "Where are they now?"

Some days are filled with energy,

And he hasn't aged at all,

For there's trampolines and somersaults,

That's when the grandkids call!

Some days he "catches up"

On stories new and old

All the "comings" and the "goings!”

And what will the future hold?

And though the call is ending,

He's no longer on his own

His loneliness has lifted 

With the voice upon the phone.

So never under estimate a phone call,

Or the solace it may bring,

For the highlight of the day

May be the phone bell's ring.

We've got to & Grandad can you tell me?

We've got to

We've got to stand six feet apart,

Until this thing is done,

But we've got to stand together

To show that we are one.

We've got to wash the hands 

With hand gel or with soap,

We've got to shop with patience,

Take our time behind the rope.

We've got to remain calm,

When there's panic in the air,

We've got to look out for those around us,

And show that we still care.

We've got to stop and smell the flowers,

See the miracles of Spring,

The primrose and the daffodil,

And hear the blackbird sing.

We've got to say a prayer

Even though it's been a while.

But God is not like you or I,

He doesn't keep a file.

We've got to believe in happy endings,

That this will end quite soon

And that we'll emerge much stronger,

From our home made cocoon!

We've got to plan a party,

When all this "craic" is o'er

When we'll look at things quite differently,

And appreciate things so much more.

Grandad can you tell me?

Grandad when you were young 

Were you ever bold?

And did you always do

What you were told?

Grandad do you see the moon?

Could we get there in a car?

And on a starry night 

Who puts the light in every star?

Is there a fire inside the sun?

Will it ever lose its light?

And grandad is it true

That cats can see at night?

How does a river start

What makes its waters flow?

How do leaves get their leaves?

What makes the grasses grow?

How do my eyes stay closed

When I'm asleep in bed?

Why do hairs grow in your nose

And not upon your head?

Grandad how do you make a wrinkle

'Cos mine keep going away

And you can make a new one

Nearly every day!

What makes the thunder

When it crashes I'm afraid

And grandad can you tell me 

How is lightning made?

Who puts the smell in all the flowers

How do nettles sting?

And grandad can you tell me

Who taught the birds to sing?

Have you ever seen a leprechaun?

Does he have a pot of gold?

And grandad can you remember 

The day that you got old?

Grandad can I tell you

How much I love you?

I love you as big as all the world,

I really really do!

x

Care & Connect - Light & Shade

“Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an lá dul chun síneadh

Is tar éis na féile Bríde ardóidh mé mo sheol”

Bí dóchasach.

I do realise that it was a real setback when the 3rd lockdown came. Many of you have become anxious, fearful, enduring mood swings and depression, which is understandable. It is important to acknowledge our worries and to talk about them and at the same time not to dwell on them too long. We must try to have courage and hope going forward. Let us not lose heart now.

Amanda Gorman in her inspiring poem, “The Hill we Climb” which she eloquently recited at President Joe Biden’s inauguration posed the question, “Can we find light in this ever ending shade”? Presently we are experiencing the shade in every aspect of everyday living. But can we find the light in this ever ending shade? Is féidir linn.

Hope and love becomes our inspiration. We are not on our own. In the midst of darkness the Lord is with us. Let us care and connect and move forward together with a spring in our step, joy in our hearts and embrace the new world we find ourselves in. We will find the light in the shade. Cling to what is good and true. We need courage and strength for what lies ahead. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. The Lord will not abandon us but walks beside us because he loves us. Stand firm. Is treise muid le chéile. Keep active. Keep steady. Keep strong. Indoors and out. The more you move the better the mood.

What should I do if I am having a bad day you might ask?

Frances Weir, Occupational Therapist says: “Keep your daily routine, stay active, mind your mood, switch off and stay connected are all great strategies to keep well during this difficult time.” Maybe it is better to look life in phases each with something new to offer so that we are always looking forward to future possibilities rather than looking back to the last memory. Let us practise gratitude for the good things that happen each day. Write them down if it helps. Gratitude is a remedy for anger. Don’t strive for perfection, be patient and kind to yourself. Don’t lean too heavily into the future as we can overlook the joy of today. All life is precious. You can remember someone when you don’t have the strength to help them in another way. Sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold, an ear to listen and a heart to understand. When you feel low do something to lift your spirits.

Let us care and connect through acts of kindness and compassion. Embrace those who have lost loved ones, assist those who are concerned about family and friends. Embrace those close to you who are in distress and help them to have courage and hope for what lies ahead.

“Bí ciallmhar i gconaí maidir leis an mbealach is fearr le tú féin a choinneáil sábháilte, is cuma cá bhfuil tú, ceard atá ar siúl agat nó cé atá in éineacht leat.”

As the late Seamus Heaney said,

“If we winter this out we can summer anywhere.

Mary Kyne,

Eanair 2021