14-15^th November 2021

You kept pulling on the sheet to

Cover your nakedness

I guessed you thought it was

The blanket

That had covered you and gave you protection

From vicious eyes.

You had us now

No need for ‘The blanket’.

Then, you squeezed my hand three times

Over those last twelve hours as

Kathleen rubbed your cold feet,

Aíne caressed your motionless right arm and

Maíre massaged your head the way

You had massaged hers after the plastic bullet –

He’s gone, Maíre sighed and I

Refused to believe her words –

Ten past 3am and our worlds stopped

Like your beautiful heart – that loved us all with

So much love that only

A lover

And

Father can.