Griffith Avenue to Dollymount Avenue, Frances D'arcy to Frances Power, Daughter to Mum to Grandma

Tree lined Griffith Avenue, no. 365, your first and beloved home,
A sanctuary of white linen table cloths, far from it you had no need to roam,
To school and back to warm your dear Dad's slippers by the fireside,
Faithfully awaiting his return from work, his youngest joy and pride,
You, his “best customer”, who warmed his heart as well as his weary feet,
After a long day working his hairdressing salon on Grafton Street,
Until that heart gave way, one awful day, when too early was he taken,
But with you forever, your love being such, not even death could it shaken.

It was to Grafton Street that you, too, were bound by fate,
Working in exclusive Switzers where you would meet your mate,
He was a great dancer, his son followed in his dancing shoes,
But before that son was 'ere a twinkle in his eye, it was a coup,
de foudre, For the man from Waterford, who dinner danced with you,
So well and to whom you promised, 50 years ago this June, to be true,
You saved your coffee break money and all you possibly could,
To add to your new Dollymount Avenue home Switzers furniture of mahogony wood.

Give up your job when you take your vows, the government did then insist,
In the kitchen left alone, your only company, the clock's tick-tick-tick's,
The beautiful young bride you had been, awaited your of-his-era, husband's daily return,
You created a home, But, no doubt, for your old life you did dream and yearn,
'Til the arrival of a distraction, and another, and another, and another,
Then two more at once, followed by another two at once; of eight you became a mother,
Never stopping to complain, There was no-one to listen at any rate, No time to contemplate,
your lot, when your own Mum, our beloved Nana, needed shelter and later nursing, You didn't hesitate.

To give refuge and succor, Your limitless capacity for goodness and love once again so brightly shone,
Tested, beyond normal human endurance, over subsequent years; but that's all forgiven now, all gone,
The present and the future, are the currency you choose now to invest in and freely spend,
To cash in on each and every day which dawns, When to your beloved garden you can tend,
Read your books, Watch your favorite TV shows, enjoy a cup of tea/miwadi, a walk,
Meet up with your children, grandchildren, your friends, or on the phone to them just talk,
Happy birthday, my dearest Mum, and Thank you for teaching me, always, to follow my star,
I wish I could be with you today but know you are with me, close to my heart, though I'm far.


I'm using some of those “kisses in my pocket” from you I'd saved from years ago to make me feel closer and to ease the pain of being across the miles today,
All of my love,
One of those distractions, 
Linda x


13 comments:

At June 4, 2011 at 5:53 AM Philip Duggan said...

Happy Birthday, Mrs. P. Hope you have a great day and that your children and grandchildren spoil you.

Love,
Phil


Happy Birthday, Grandma! I miss you!

Love,
Luca

 
At June 4, 2011 at 9:17 PM Niamh said...

Wow Linda .what a tribute ..I think you got in all the memorable pieces .

"kisses in the pocket " are always useful I find.

Lovely rhyme and rhythm and true content as well.
we had a lovely couple of sunny days but the rain is coming !
Lots of love ,
niamh

 
At June 5, 2011 at 1:05 AM Anonymous said...

Hi there Linda! I agree wholeheartedly with Niamh: What a beautiful tribute!! Yes sometimes kisses in your pocket are all you've got to turn to, when you're lonely or low & far from home. Mrs P could make a fortune if she patented that wonderful concept! look forward to trying to ring you in Saigon this morning! AINE

 
At June 5, 2011 at 5:51 AM Linda de Paor said...

Thanks for lovely feedback guys. Lovely to chat this morning Aine. Sounds like a lovely day in Sydney.

 
At June 5, 2011 at 9:26 PM Anonymous said...

Linda,

What a beautiful poem so poignant, I think you have caught the essence of her!!! If only you could bottle up that spirit!!!Lovely to talk yesterday and keep adventuring and writing. It seems something buried has come to the fore and keeps flowing!

lets collect those kisses for her!!!
Love orla
x irka

 
At June 5, 2011 at 9:28 PM Anonymous said...

typo love
orla

 
At June 6, 2011 at 5:32 AM Linda de Paor said...

Aw - thanks Or! :) I seem to have re-found something on this journey of my pre-lawyer days from school and university, when my raison d'etre was to read and write. Won't be giving up the day job (when I get another one that is) just yet but I am enjoying it. :) Lovely to chat on Sunday. Love to you all. x

 
At June 7, 2011 at 3:47 PM Sharon said...

You have a way with words Mrs. Duggan ;) What a beautiful tribute and you could see how touched Mrs. P was when she was reading it... Food for thought for all of us for one time or another.
This is really beautiful...
Shaz xx

 
At June 8, 2011 at 2:09 PM Sarah said...

So beautiful Linda - I'm sure it made your mum's day. Hope she had a lovely birthday
x

 
At June 9, 2011 at 4:10 PM Linda de Paor said...

Aw. :) Thank you very much Shaz and Sarah. Just have to post the pressie which we got in Chiang Mai for her now - along with bump's pressie too. I don't know how I didn't get it together sooner. Love to you and yours, L x

 
At June 13, 2011 at 10:57 AM Anonymous said...

Happy Belated Birthday to dear Mrs P. A personal poem is the best present you could have given, Linda. X

 
At June 23, 2011 at 7:06 PM Anonymous said...

That was a beautifull poem Linda. I hope those kisses in your pocket helped ;)

Laura DLR Lib HQ

 
At June 25, 2011 at 6:06 PM Linda de Paor said...

Thanks Lynn and Laura. x

 

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