Tuesday 24 November 2009

On My Birthday.




This evening,
in a fug,

I lay in the bath and I listened.

Out in the darkness
the sea has found it's winter voice
booming onto shingle, a grave Neptunous murmuring in my ear.

I listen to the tap drip,
the candle spit and hiss,
and the strains of Van Morrison echo dimly somewhere in the house.

Tiny footsteps run down the hall,
past the door
and away.

The sweetest voice I know singing as it goes.

And somewhere else
the hum of familiar voices
rumble against one another in newly discovered conversation.

And I look through the steam that swirls through candlelight,
at the robe my mother gave me against the newly painted door,

and happiness will run,
for I am beholden.

And happiness will run.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

If it's your birthday...Happy Birthday...if its just a special day....Happy Day!! Reminds me of a song I always played on birthdays by Altered Images..."Happy Birthday"..

Rima Staines said...

Happy happy birthday dear Ciara, what a lovely post. May your next year be full of Intriguing Things Just Round The Corner and much much happiness...
Love from Rima xx

CAM said...

Happy birthday - how lovely to appreciate a quiet moment in it...in any day really...I do love your writing.

Pandorah's Box said...

So beautiful. I hope you have a Happy Birthday!!

Jenny said...

Love the poem! Have a wonderful birthday :)

Tia said...

Great post Ciara ,loving the images in the poem ! Hope you had a great day !

HKatz said...

I just discovered this blog. Reading it gives me a peaceful feeling; it's full of beauty and life.

My favorite line from this post:
"grave Neptunous murmuring"

Martin said...

Happy Birthday Ciara!

Elaine Prunty said...

very happy birthday wishes to you Ciara ....sounds like your having a great day already...
loved the images and sounds you've evoked here,

Simply Mel said...

Beautiful post..always love visiting your site. Enjoy your special day!

Mimi said...

Happy Birthday Ciara!
We share the same birthday, though I'm sure not the same year.
I'm glad that you had a happy day and I'm glad to say that happiness did run on mine too!

0rangey said...

What a beautiful poem. Happy birthday.

Erin said...

A pleasurable visual journey through your poem. I do love me some Van Morrison! Happy Day!

Meg said...

Happy happy happy birthday to you!
God bless.

Anonymous said...

When I stayed in Ireland I played Van Morrison all the time - so evocative!

A Daft Scots Lass said...

Happy Birthday!

Formerly known as Frau said...

Happy Birthday! Beautiful poem

Dianne said...

Hope your birthday was awesome! Your words go right to the heart, and evoke the emotions and feelings that prompted them. Thanks for the inspiration.

Sahildeki Ev said...

Such a beautiful and peaceful poem. Happy birthday..

Anne said...

Happy Birthday..:)

Anonymous said...

beautiful. happy birthday, Ciara.

Jess said...

Happy birthday! I always find a quiet moment in the day on my birthday to reflect on things and your words are wonderfully descriptive. It's a lovely poem. :)

Acornmoon said...

Happy Birthday Ciara and many of 'em!

Mel said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CIARA, DEAR!
And what a dear you are, too. Your sweet note... this poem... You are giving gifts to all of US on YOUR Birthday. I wish I'd logged on to catch this in time...

May you have many arms around you, and laughter and sweet moments of loving care, all throughtout your Birthday week. A long life of lifelong completed gestures...

xom

Chris Judge said...

Beautiful Ciara, Happy birthday! See you soon for some cake x

Laura said...

Ciara, such a lovely and complete image/feeling you have composed of a brief moment of blessing...Happy Birthday!
Laura

0rangey said...

You may absolutely venture any possibly helpful advice you have on hand. I'll try the sugar thing, and thank you very much. Usually people say "diet makes a difference" and don't give any specifics, and I have a terrible memory anyway. But I will try to cut out as much sugar as possible. (I have a major sweet tooth, so it's going to be a feat, but we'll see.) Thank you very much, and I hope your birthday was wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Happy "belated" birthday Ciara!

From: The Janney family
Georgia, USA

Karlette said...

Happy Birthday Ciara.

Just love your life & peeking into it from day to day. Thanks for the joy you bring me all the way in India :o)

Big Birthday Hug from Mumbai,

Karlette
http://keeda007.blogspot.com

Danielle Barlow said...

Oh Happy Birthday!

Liz Meehan Neighbors said...

what a lovely birthday! your writing is beautiful!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Well drat! I can't believe I'm late to the party! My tardiness doesn't effect the sincerity of my birthday wish, however!! All the very best to you for a most happy birthday and wonderful upcoming year!

Lovely post, too!!

Snafflesmummy said...

Ah, a belated Happy Birthday. It seems we are birthday buddies as this is my birthday too. Hope you had a lovely day.

ps: there is an award waiting for you over at mine.

Péitseoga said...

Happy Birthday!

Gay Marie said...

C.
What a Lovely Blog! I look forward to each visit. Reading what you share with us and write so beautifully about, gives me hope in my new blog i began last night...http://marshmallowgarden.blogspot.com/ . I am not as talented as you in the writing... but maybe i can learn with each post to express my thoughts as you do. G.

Cliona O'Flaherty said...

Oh that is really lovely Ciara. Catch up soon for Birthday celebrations. X

mimi charmante said...

Yes, I am catching up...
Dare I ask which birthday it was? Once again I am struck by our similarities, as my birthday was the 20th - my 39th and I know you are younger than I.
Could we have been somehow separated at birth perhaps...?
:)

Ciara Brehony said...

Dearest Mimi, believe it or not it was my 39th too. Imagine!

I love that!

Safyah Zafar said...

Loved it truly! For me it somehow sketched a solemn picture of a weird sense of loneliness despite people around oneself..it touched me =)

~FlUtEpLaYeR98~ (follow me on twitter) said...

You have a talent of poetry!