Saint Oliver’s

 Looking down from St Oliver’s 

Looking down from Saint Oliver’s plots 

Down the daffodilled lanes

Looking across to the Hill in Killiney

And over to Howth in the distance. 

Deans Grange cemetery is quiet

This mild Spring morning in March

Saved from burials this morning

The bleakest of rituals during Covid. 

Handsome headstones stand guard 

To the loved and the lost from the past

Mourning grandads and grand-mummies,

Daddies and mammies, occasionally children too. 

Fresh flowers in well tended graves

The affection still there and still true

Remembering those we have loved

Appreciated more that they’ve passed.    

I’ve come to salute special  lives

I carry around in the pockets

Of memories grown fonder with years 

Gratitude has replaced all the tears. 

Thank you Desmond and Kate at the Gate

And Andy and Moyna and Marie

And high up the company of Oliver 

Thank you Kevin and Lily and sister Kate. 

The daffodils line all the roads  

Waving their heads in the wind

Lining with gold every Avenue

Saluting each soul in the graveyard. 

For it is a sweet, sacred duty to pray

To keep alive to this day

The memory of those who truly loved us

For the belief and support that they gave.