Celeste

CELESTE          P.J. Murphy

If I could 
induce Zeus
to rearrange
the heavens...

I'd have the
night skies dappled
with your eyes

And the dawn
adorned
with your smile.

Abide

ABIDE               P. J. Murphy

Hush now.
The time is near for all your crying.
Stand proud
for one more hour,
your quiet company is required
for one last journey.
Mother Earth
has opened her brown belly
to nurture him
for new beginnings


Weep now.
Wake the dead with all your wailing.
Sister Fates
have torn your soul apart.
The world is emptied
but you must stay,
among the faded grey
which once was colour,
the shallow sighs
where laughter used to be

Look now.
You see his smile and you are smiling.
Father Time
has brushed away the years.
Your tears are spent,
the sweet is married to the bitter.
The sword no longer twists
at just the thought of him
and memories are edged
with green and gold.

Such Sweet Sorrow

We separate ourselves
so that we will not be parted
by that which has no mercy,
no respect for the yearnings
for the touch, the hugs,
the blessed nearness of them


Their faces smile bravely
on the screens we hold close
- so very close -
we chat and laugh
with forced normality
about toilet rolls and pasta


Around the world
homes under siege
long for real closeness again
especially with the little ones
who cannot know that grownups
must suffer to defend precious family



But we will not be parted
so we separate ourselves
for a little while

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Missing my beautiful daughters and grandchildren so much...
"Partir, c'est mourir un peu"

(c) P.J. Murphy. March 2020