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Ireland: Day 9

Posted on by Wick

On the early road to Dublin
I held “Mo Thaisce’s” hand
Our hearts all thumping adventure
Exploring Dublin firsthand

First to the Book of Kells
That deep illumination
Four books in one so long ago
Proclaiming our salvation

The page today was opened
Last chapter by Luke’s hand
“And on the first day of the week”
He thwarted what evil planned

To Trinity College library
Ireland’s treasure store
The harp of Bryan Boru here
Declarations and still more

The voices of the ages
Combined in conversation
Juxtaposed in one long hall
Republic beyond a nation

Next to tower before tea
To swell with family pride
Welcomed well by Salesforce
With refreshments opened wide

Then tea, shopping, and Vikings
We conquered by dividing
All the sights, the sounds, and more
This city was providing

Ending at Temple Bar District
By dining at the Shack
Strong Irish viands here we found
Yet one more thing we lacked

We wandered only briefly
To sound of Trad music afar
At Gogarty’s, O’Connor invited us
To remember where we are

Posted in Different Moments

Ireland: Day 8

Posted on by Wick

A sabbath within a vacation
A rest, no strive to produce
We gathered for worship with family
Partaking of the bread and the juice

Not only the family we came with
But family beyond any doubt
Australia, South Africa, Hungary
Gathered by Christ, and sent out

Then to the shores near Clontarf
To enjoy Beshoff’s gluten-free
Fish & Chips flowed in abundance
While seagulls waited patiently

Inspired by those nearby swimming
An oddly warm Irish Sunday
Deciding a cold plunge sounds lovely
We hiked the Howth cliffside way

To pool in a natural setting
With seals and their mates swimming by
We jumped from the rocks into waters
Bluffs echoed with each joyful cry

On hiking back, we took the long way
Reminded, though green may impress
Some paths contain thorns in abundance
Without caution, it may mean bring distress

Braving such, slowly together
We bid goodbye to “fluffy coos”
To enjoy some evening gelato
Then summit, for spectacular views

Posted in Different Moments

Ireland: Day 7

Posted on by Wick

From vacation, we returned to vacation
On the drive, our side quests abound
Beginning with coffee near Slemish
Where Patrick, enslaved, his faith found

A child of a minister’s family
He’d scorned the faith they proclaimed
Yet here on the hills of volcano
The Good Shepherd was calling his name

Next Belfast, to St George’s Market
So busy and filled from the start
We pondered, perused and wandered
And talked with artists of their art

Then to the corner of Lewis
To see Narnia in the flesh
Each statue a life-sized reminder
Imagination offers refresh

Seeing his church and the rectory
His home they call “Little Lea”
Here the seeds of harvest were planted
In the soil of wartimes to be

Off to the shores of Titanic
Where Nomadic still rests, work completed
I wonder the thoughts and the prayers
Of those who were on this ship seated

This life, our Nomadic journey
So short, as to what may next come
Ensured of eternity after
(Yet its mystery has already begun.)

Returned to our safe Howth harbor
We unpacked at Oring domicile
Contented with all our adventures
Each headed to bed with a smile