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Easter Memories - repost of Monaleen Church

 Waiting for the Easter Vigil, having done way too much this Easter already. My poem, Monaleen Church isn't in for a competition at the moment so I'm putting it here to remind us of Easters gone by. This poem resounds with me more than any other, apart from 'Lough Foyle'. Some of it could be based on the fictional characters of Angela and Nollaig in my manuscript 'My arms are holding you'. It's still dedicated to Andrew.

Monaleen Church

I remember from childhood,
the rain on the stone and earth of the walls at Castletroy.
I remembered—but couldn’t tell you—the feeling:
sitting in the day services, looking out at the rain.

I remember you.
I could read you, though you didn’t know.
You meant well. I miss you.

I remember Groody and Golf Links,
Dublin Road, home.
Music, dance, oranges.
Dancing Queen. I lived for my music.

I was with you
when you brought her home—
when you brought me home.
Answering God’s call without knowing.

A companion to dance, to laugh,
to love the music.

I remember the rain on the walls of Dublin Road,
the trees drawing night in early.
But most of all—
the Easter Vigil at Monaleen Church,
the bonfire blazing bravely.

May 9th.
December 25th.
Monaleen Church in full bloom—
the flowers, the beauty, the ache of it all.

So here I am.
Home.

A ghost made of ice crystals and fire embers,
soaring above Monaleen and Castletroy—
and in her, in her music,
in her dance with life...

I came home.

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