GOOD OLD DUBLIN
(not previously published)
Hop on and hop off –
the musical bus driver
takes us everywhere.
The apparition
of these faces in the crowd –
pebbles on a beach.
Dublin’s fair city
where the girls are so pretty –
goes the old ditty.
Welsh rugby fans
take to the streets like buffaloes
in bright red T-shirts.
Above the traffic
sunlight paints the upper half
of handsome buildings.
People packed into
eateries and snuggeries
talking and talking.
A billion voices –
in the Chinese restaurant
we are in China.
Saint Stephen’s Green –
one tree in particular
captures my fancy,
its spectacular
sunlit leafless crown swaying
in all directions.
A bench in the sun –
eminently huggable
wintery old elms.
The Chester Beatty
Library – Kuan Yin nestling
among the bibles.
Celtic heritage –
the bronze weapons of heroes
and their womenfolk.
The declaration
of Irish independence –
tears stream down my cheeks.