November Notes

 November leaves

Pilgrim brother on the journey 

Pilgrim brother on the journey

Through the dusty roads of Spain

Along the path that winds from France 

Through the woods and through the trees 

To the plains of wide Castile. 

Here we are a decade later

Needing hope to fill our soul

But we look with faith and love

To a time when we greet the morn 

Walking westward, faith reborn. 

The memories of the morning charm

In little towns along the way 

The cool clean air as we’re leaving

Marching down the ancient streets

That echo pilgrims through the ages. 

Still we sense our friends the angels 

To this day the bond that lasts

Across the seas, across the years

The pilgrim world that makes its journey  

Round past the planets and the stars. 

Our lonely world’s a pilgrim too

Passing through an empty space 

Nodding gently at bright stars 

That mark the way along a map

Once drawn by God, renewed each day. 

Pilgrims we along a journey 

That leads to truth and leads to love

Far and safely have we traveled

And we will travel once again

When the new year comes around. 

When shadows shorten 

And strides are lengthened 

When we greet our brothers too

Over breakfast then tie our laces 

Heading westward once again. 

It’s the third of November 

It’s the third of November 

There’s an election somewhere

But here in Killiney

The sun is still shining

On the froth and spume

Cresting the ripples, running the Bay

Pretty as Vico, Stunning today. 

The sun is so low

But dancing it seems 

Over the sea of sparkling green

The low sun is warming 

Reflecting  off waters

Doubling the dose

Of Vitamin D 

Brave swimmers enjoy

The sun on the double

Young lovers hold hands

Sitting high in the heather

Young mothers with prams

Sun kiss their toddlers 

Old men sit dozing

Their hard work long done. 

The women are chatting

As only they can

Chatting and drying

Their hair in the sun

Another day older

But the laughter still lingers

Long after they’ve left

And made their way home. 

Sun reflecting off waters

That burble on and splutter 

That crash onto the shore.

Shores that have witnessed 

The glory of summer

The beauty that comes 

With cold in the Fall. 

Other swimmers arrive

And quickly take over

Embracing the role

Embracing the sea

As they lie back and marvel 

Backs in the water

Eyes to the sky

Hardy the swimmers

Braving the cold

Drinking the sun 

Inhaling the ozone

In a world of their own 

Meshed with the infinite 

Absorbed in the timeless 

Breathing, exhaling 

Grateful to be 

At one with the sea. 

The waves are washing

The waves are washing wearily

On a cold November shore

They whish and whoosh

While high above 

The crows call noisily

An autumn evening tolls. 

The waves are washing tirelessly

Our troubles and our woes 

They rinse and clear our misery

They sound a note of hope

They cleanse our inner core. 

The hearts that terror tore. 

The Irish Sea is breathing

An ozone clear and cold

Filling with faint hope

Our worried brows and so

We’ll face the winter snow

Rejoice in Christmas glow. 

The winter birds are flying 

Above Killiney cliffs

Soaring high above a sea

Gliding in a steely sky

Calling in the evening hymn

With timeless majesty.

The holy time of Advent

Patient souls with lights

Flickering in the windows

Glowing in the night

Beyond our failing sight

For time runs slow tonight. 

The waves are making progress

Stretching up the beach

Sucking sand and pebbles

Extending with a reach

Blessing Ireland as they roar 

They crash aloud on Dalkey shore.