What happened?
It was going so well.
*****
Is it only life that taunts us
That emasculates us
That annihilates us?
Or is it them?
The other ones
The invasive ones
The heartless ones?
We’ve walked this way
We’ve seen this sight
Our voices hushed
Refusing the sight
For too many years.
*****
They promised us countless times
They held the thread where dangled joy
Then promised us peace
The dove on the wing
We closed our eyes
In grateful admonition.
*****
A future lay in the fog of time
Our future lay without compromise
We stood our ground
They said 'Defy'
We garnered time's elusive grasp.
A universe bespoke
We held it fierce
We made it ours
And brooked no tyrant's wrath
*****
Our fear dissolved
In tears that fell
In pools of steel
In streams of memory.
In furrows where
Our words took root
And then we bloomed.
About the Creator
Marie McGrath
Things that have saved me:
Animals
Music
Sense of Humor
Writing
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Love Letters Through Time
Context: Grace (Gráinne) Gifford, was a participant in the Irish nationalist struggle against British rule, which led to ‘The Easter Rising’, Easter Monday, 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. She was betrothed to one of the leaders, who were due to be executed the morning after being taken prisoner. Joseph and Grace were married the night before in his prison cell. Joseph (Seosamh Pluinceid)) was one of the leaders of The Rising, a signatory of the Irish Proclamation and, in death, a revered Irish hero. These are my imaginings of ‘her’ final words to him. I include a few words in Irish Gaelic as the movement that led to the rebellion favored speaking Irish, instead of English. I would wager a guess, as they were both poets and writers in the Irish republican movement that she would have chosen to marry her love of country with her love of him in expressing her devotion.
By Marie McGrathExclusive • 11 months ago
Comments (3)
This piece holds a description of struggle in general and ends with glimmer of hope which is needed in these dark times of hopelessness and dread. well written- love the imagery of pools of steel, streams of memory..
Your poem eloquently captures the struggle. Thank you for sharing this
A great depiction of how true strength and beauty is molded by hardships and challenges! Love it! 💚