June 1981...

Some dates remain in mind for various reasons
Those of a personal nature more easily recalled
I remember a specific day for a scary episode
In fact, it was a terrifying event that took place
I was a nurse in a hospital outpatient’s clinic
The building was situated beside a courthouse
The city’s main prison was across the road
It was indeed a very volatile area of Belfast
That Wednesday had been as busy as any day
Late afternoon and preparing to finish work
There was a commotion outside the building
Endless bangs and uniformed people outside
It became clear that the noise was gunshots
My colleagues and I got down on the floor
It was a most intense period of absolute fear
We knew nothing about the circumstances
Gunfire followed by the screech of loud sirens
The building filled with police and soldiers
Searching and surrounding the outside area
It seemed like an eternity lying on the floor
I assumed that this might be the end of life
Petrified and nauseous I got back to my feet
We learned there had been a prison escape
Eight prisoners had escaped into parked cars
Outside the window where I had been working
A terrorist incident lost to the pages of history
It remains a day I will forever regard as my miracle
My unborn baby was also a survivor that day...

Eileen T O’Neill 15/05/2024
 

Night Sky

Between the hours of evensong and dawn’s birdsong
Curtains gradually close upon daylight’s presence 
The night sky becomes an immense inky backdrop
Twinkling stars and planets peep down from on high
There is such mystery staring into the vast night sky
Darkness is a time for shadows to dally and dance
Minds try to fathom the shifting nature of shapes
Dreamers delve under their cosy duvets to escape
Adventurers enjoy the magic of the quieter hours
Ghostly figures flit and dart from place to place
Unknowns love the freedom to occupy the night
Creative spirits easily bring night’s beauty to life…

Eileen T O’Neill 08/05/2024

Silence...

The house within its emptiness has certain sounds
Not just odd creaks and scrapes up in the rafters
More like a very lively imagination running free
As a myriad of silent tones settle around the room
It is interesting to pick up these sounds of silence
Invisibility adds its madness to the cacophony
The mantelpiece clock seems to tick even louder
You are never alone while in the presence of time
There is a movement to life though rarely noticed
During these moments it is possible to reflect
Sometimes it is fine to let the silence simply be
A presence undisturbed by the outside world for now…

Eileen T O’Neill 02/05/2024

The Light...

Every day unfolds between sunrise and sunset
Drawing back curtains normally invites wonder
Daylight hours usually determine one’s mood
Attitudes so easily beset by disappointments
Or energised to make the most of each day
Light influences so much of life’s direction
Shreds and shards seep into darkened rooms
Instantly there is warmth and a sense of good
Inspiration thrives where light is all around
Photographs can capture unexpected scenes
Especially where light has seeped into view
There is a brilliant luminosity on a sunshiny day
Spirits rejoice and feel uplifted during those times
Summer’s blue sky colours the ocean’s wavy waters
Feeling good absorbs the best of sunlit opportunities
Motivation welcomes the joy of daylight’s presence…

Eileen T O’Neill 28/03/2024

Characters and Charlatans...

Occasionally poems will almost write themselves
If circumstances and details are readily available
My memories from an evening in Santa Monica
Fell into my lap as a lasting memory of events
A quiet evening in the lobby bar with friends
Enjoying a wonderful glass of Californian merlot
After a while, the lobby area became quite busy
People vying for a seat or phone charging points
A man bumped into my chair and excused himself
He heard my accent and immediately stood by me
Introduced himself as Sean Casey from Los Angeles
Of course he was full of chat about the film industry
Introduced us all to his group of actor companions
He was supposedly filming nearby in the local area
Within an hour Sean had almost sold us his story
It involved blood sweat tears and love at its core
Plausible to a few who were hanging on every word
Sean simply asked for extra drinks to conclude his tale
I sensed it was an unexpected serving of baloney
The hotel manager recognised the chatty troupe 
Within minutes they were unplugging their phones
Gathering backpacks and quickly exiting the door
They were well known for their calculated trickery
Just sixteen miles between Santa Monica and fame
Leaving the hotel to go to a restaurant for dinner
I shared the revolving door with singer Rod Stewart
We hesitated to try to gauge if it really was him
Nothing seemed as it might be in that location
Men in black were inconspicuous back at the bar
President Obama was attending an event tomorrow…

Eileen T O’Neill 21/03/2024

Make-Believe...

I always felt safe and secure in my favourite place
It was an exclusive location known only to me
I could go there at any time of the day or night
Being eleven seemed quite an old age back then
I enjoyed my time and friends at primary school
I was nervous about moving to a new high school
Most afternoons I had to do errands for my mother
I enjoyed shopping alone and having pocket money
Other worlds were known about through radio news
Vietnam was so far away but it was always a topic
The world I knew existed between school and home
Television brought new experiences straight into my life
I recall how afraid I felt when violent things happened
Daily murder and mayhem on the streets of my city
I had thought that killing was only in cowboy movies
Or very far away where the president had been shot
I frequently delved into worlds of endless imagination
I absorbed the many great adventures of Nancy Drew
Lived for my favourite comic June and Schoolfriend
Make-believe was a quiet place where I could just be
Feeling safe was paramount in my mind back then…

Eileen T O’Neill 14/03/2024

Many Reasons...

Twenty long weeks between the months of dark and light

Hibernation moves quickly once October has dawned

Life bounds itself indoors with strands of colourful lights

I long for the sound of birdsong and the scent of spring

Marking time with forward plans and new opportunities

Fifteen different tasks make up a household to-do list

Each task requires motivation and a great deal of energy

It is easier to put it all off until a brighter day has arrived

Flaky eyesight excuses another day without any reading

Raymond Carver's novel Beginners, still awaits its time

A bookmark has marked page four for at least six months

I feel sad that I have neglected to savour his observations

Four weeks until a suitcase must be prepared for travel

It is always easier to select clothes when the sun shines

Such an incentive encourages an exciting countdown

Motivation arrives easily when reasons are  positive...

Eileen T O'Neill 07/03/2024