Inspiration Angel - by Ann Marquette GUEST POST

Dedicated to my friend Terri who passed away in 2006…
________________________________________

I didn’t know you well
I didn’t know you long
But, you became a friend
And, you inspired me

Your kindness and caring
Even through your pain
Your strength, courage, and faith
Amazed and inspired me

Your sweet nagging
To keep writing
To finish the next book
Made my heart smile
You inspired me

I miss you Sweet Lady
Yet you are always
A part of me
In my heart
A beautiful memory
My Inspiration Angel

© December 11, 2006

The Budget is coming! - GUEST VERSE

by Vincent Houlihan  © 

The Budget is coming,

we're scared to the bone,

will I give up me car,

me house or me phone?
They're tellin me NAMA

and Anglo are kool,
but they've taken me steak,

now I have to eat gruel...

First they said 2 years,

now they say ten,
and they'll tax me gold fillings

between now and then,
if we have work ideas,

they think we're just snobs,

we lose all our benefits

if we create jobs.

Oh! and while I'm at it,

don't ever get sick,
3 weeks on a trolley 

just won't do the trick.

so they'll pick on the pensions,

its easy - they're old,
and export the young ones

as though they're being sold,

what's left will be muggins

and all of my kind,

to follow our leaders

as though we were blind,

If we dont find the culprits, 

it will happen again,
we need  a clear message 

to send out the them.
The mystical tiger 

who once stalked our shore,
now lies like a crumpled old rug

on the floor......................

Here I am

by Claire Hegarty

Here I am,
and I know I'm okay
It's taken me a long  time
to feel this way,
a long long time,,
to know who I am
to cultivate
some inner calm

It will take more time
this I know
to get to where
I want to go
but at least I know
where that is now
I know where I want to get to
and I know  how

The answers come
from within
I wish I had known this
when I was young and thin!
Inner peace and calm
this is the key
to get to where
I want to be

Don't worry, Be Happy, making a memory

'Don't worry, be happy' is a favourite song of mine
my little son sings it all the time
sometimes when I am feeling sad or down,
this song can turn everything around

I hope my son remembers in the years to come,
singing this uplifting song with me, his mum,
and in his life if and when things go wrong,
I hope that he will sing this song

When I was little, every once in a while
my mother would sing a song called 'smile'
There were some tough times when I was small
and this song helped her through it all

We sing our song almost every day
to keep the downbeat thoughts at bay
Some may think it  a little twee
but we are making a memory


Claire Hegarty© 

A Writer's Procrastination

Why don't you submit the piece, now that it's complete, why are you still dawdling and dragging your two feet? Why can't you just send the piece, why do you contemplate, why be unsure and insecure, why still procrastinate? Why do you make excuses, when deep inside you feel, that however small the feeling is, the piece has some appeal? Why can't you just submit the piece, are you afraid to know it's fate? you fear success as much as failure so you again, procrastinate! - C Hegarty2003

Dad - written after he passed away in July 2001

Dad - Claire Hegarty - © December 2001
Things seem okay, and I forget for a while,
that I won't be greeted by your hug or your smile.
And as I walk into the hallway, I am taken aback,
realising your coats are gone from the rack.
The coats used to hang there, in sets of two,
some belonging to mam, some belonging to you.
As I call out to Mam, to let her know I am here,
I fix a smile on my face and stifle back tears.

I go into the kitchen to make us some tea,
and memories in everything jump out at me.
I see your radio, your photos, your rocking chair,
wherever I look, the memories are there.
Things look just the same, all safe and all sound,
it's hard to believe you're not physically around.
But, in my minds eye, I can still see your face,
and I hope that spiritually you are still in the place.

We sit and we chat and have a drink in your name,
but we both know that things are just not the same.
Remembering the good times and even the bad,
though we know you've passed on, it's hard not to feel sad.
We know you weren't perfect and like all families do,
we had our tiffs and our differences, more than a few.
But despite all of that, the bond is still strong,
and we all loved each other, in that I'm not wrong.

Worrying about Mam and if she feels alone,
I want her to know she is not on her own.
I know that she talks to you every night
You're not out of her mind, though you are out of her sight.
You used to say if you went, that we sould soon forget,
Well, we never will and we haven't yet.
In us and the children, you will live on
and I guess in those ways, you are not fully gone.

Sometimes, doing things, that the family share,
I get a lump in my throat, I so want you there.
When I look at the young ones, I wish you could see,
how they are growing and what they turn out to be.
I miss you, I love you but memories console,
and help to diminish the ache in my soul.
I know you would visit, if you were allowed,
and I hope the family you left, made you happy and proud

Age

Untitled - Claire Hegarty© 2005

I see the way your shoulders droop
and that in your walk there is a stoop, 
the years are catching up with you 
as years eventually tend to do, 
Your once sure foot is now 
unsteady 
and for your decline, 
I am not ready 
but yet your mind is still 
astute, 
and there you still relive your youth. 

Though you are ageing 
gracefully, 
it keeps creeping up 
steathily, 
to some it creeps invisibly 
but it's not unnoticeable to me, 
It breaks my heart and always 
will, 
that I can't make the time
stand still, 
and from this ageing make you free 
and young as in past memory
but I am so glad you are still with me...