City of Blackbirds

Hello friends, I am still here, still searching for balance so slow to use the computer or camera.  These pretty little things are growing on my balcony which is suddenly coming alive with life now that the spring warmth has finally settled in.  All this new growth has reminded me of a beautiful Brendan Kennelly poem, I’ll share it with you below.

Begin

Begin again to the summoning birds
to the sight of light at the window,
begin to the roar of morning traffic
all along Pembroke Road.
Every beginning is a promise
born in light and dying in dark
determination and exaltation of springtime
flowering the way to work.
Begin to the pageant of queuing girls
the arrogant loneliness of swans in the canal
bridges linking the past and the future
old friends passing through with us still.
Begin to the loneliness that cannot end
since it perhaps is what makes us begin,
begin to wonder at unknown faces
at crying birds in the sudden rain
at branches stark in the willing sunlight
at seagulls foraging for bread
at couples sharing a sunny secret
alone together while making good.
Though we live in a world that dreams of ending
that always seems about to give in
something that will not acknowledge conclusion
insists that we forever begin.

Brendan Kennelly

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Just a quick post to wish all of you a happy St Patrick’s Day!  This is a photo of my father on Patrick’s Day last year, sporting some fine Irish shamrock!  I love that today Ireland and Irishness will be embraced all over the world by people who feel a real connection to this country.  I don’t know of any other nation that is so internationally celebrated, it feels special to be Irish :)

I’ll leave you with some of my own favourite images of Ireland.  Enjoy your day wherever in the world you are and however you’re celebrating!

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