Poem of the week: A Pietà

for Patricia Horgan

You are doing what anyone would do

when you kneel in broad daylight, Patricia,

in the middle of a Cork street to whisper

into Christy Ring's ear an Act of Contrition.

Granted extra time and a second wind

he would be inclined to join in with you

because he’s loved it since he was a child,

except these are the dying minutes of his life,

time is flying and his mind is elsewhere,

and you are keeping his good soul company

because he has done all that flesh can do.

It is enough that he hears you say ‘amend’

as you make out of your garment a pillow

and take, as you pray, in your hands his hands.

Today’s poem is from Tom French’s new collection, The Sea Field (Gallery Press)

A new work by Tom French