Rewarded by dolphins (the song of the 39 year old). Dedicated to Ida Heywood.
Posted: June 30, 2017 Filed under: Poem | Tags: dolphins, Guinness, Ireland, Jacky Kennedy, JFK, Stena Line 3 CommentsI recently rediscovered a booklet/pamphlet of poems collated for me by great friends at ROCC, a charity I worked for in the 1990’s. Having had a read through there are some here that I like – maybe some revisions to be made, and some, all, resonate with the past….but I fancied sharing a few of them. Hope that you will like them. And here’s to us all – past, present and future.
This poem is dedicated to the memory of a dear friend of my mum and I, the inimitable Ida. I was returning from Ireland, having spent a few days with them both, when this was written.
Rewarded by dolphins – written on my 38th birthday, on the ferry from Rosslaire to Fishguard.
And what does a birthday bring?
A child being sick, before we leave the harbour,
making my breakfast, somewhat uneasy!
A memory of Ireland,
old places, old faces,
ice cream and cold Guinness,
and a beach, thick with shells,
and drummed by racing horses –
beyond the house where Jacky stayed,
after they stole her Jack away.
And what does a birthday bring?
Cold hands in a strong wind,
and seabirds coasting the waves.
And I’ve a new, navy colour hat.
And five, yes five dolphins breaking out of the blue,
leaping, skimming, arching
and spelling out something new to come.
And I?
I am rewarded by dolphins.
Thanks Marc – it’s a great poem. I still have my copy of the book too!
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Love this poem. You are so clever.
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Written over twenty years ago, but it has that unmistakeable Mordey ring to it!
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