Deep Spirits

Beannacht (For Josie)

In the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the curach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

( John o'Donohue)


The Irish word Beannacht means - A blessing
Curach - an Irish tar covered boat.

d.

This is a beautiful poem Dermot.
I love these verses very much . They could be a poem for itself.



I am curious about your choice. Is it inspired by the moment or he is your favorite poet?

Hi Mirjana, i found this poem by accident really. Generally i find poetry a bit pretentious and stiff, but this is written from the heart.......lovely imagery around a simple story.

Its simplicity is what touched me, after that i marvelled at the use of imagery.
As for John O'Donohue im going to read more of his poetry before i comment further, im glad you liked it.......its very Irish!
d.

Waiting curiously your future comments.

Dermot, it is lovely!!
Simple and sincere and lovely.


Incidentally...

dermot wrote:The Irish word Beannacht means - A blessing

In German "Nacht" means night.
Bean night - a blessing

Eat beans for dinner, a blessed night is sure to follow.
I think it's quite obvious...

Sabina i direct you to the 'bean' scene from 'Blazing Saddles' for reference purposes only!
Bean night, is not something that can be equated with the word 'Beannacht' i assue you!

d.

dermot wrote:Sabina i direct you to the 'bean' scene from 'Blazing Saddles' for reference purposes only!

I checked it out on Youtube... nice illustration. And then....... one of the related videos was this (fair warning, there are no beans featured in this one!)

dermot wrote:Bean night, is not something that can be equated with the word 'Beannacht' i assue you!

Yes, I understand completely. And a part of me feels like I have ruined this beautiful topic and the poetic imagery with my digression. Another part of me is having fun.
You know how it is.
So, I hope you don't mind....

Well im not sure what the great poet would say if he stumbled on this thread, he would probably be moved to write some 'non poetic' comments, or he would laugh like any good 'self deprecating Irishman'.......
Nice one Sabina!

The best poetry is the one that comes from the heart , because it goes directly to the heart.
Thank you.