Dublin – Page 2 – words from wick

Ireland: Day 9

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

A day of such natural beauty
This day was especially filled
Started with full Irish breakfast
To navigate these emerald hills

Dunseverick castle reminded
Our desire for safe and secure
Can also mean isolation
While our walls will crumble for sure

Ensconced in the beauty surrounding
While hiking both round, down, and up
As if we had just finished praying
“Lord, with beauty, fill my cup.”

The waves slowly crashing on boulders
Their ancient soundtrack still playing
We traveled to the Giant’s Causeway
Not far from where we were staying

A hike all around the cliff’s edges
An awe-inspiring view
To pause and breathe in such wonder
So often, we simply eschew

Climbing, exploring like children
Each step well apportioned and shaped
One direction, a coastal exhibit
The other, pastoral landscaped

Next, a brief stop in Bushmills
To refresh our stomachs and mind
Tiring, yet still pressing forward
To Dunluce to see what we’d find

Through rain, we saw cliff-sided castle
Which inspired Aslan’s abode
With gratitude for redemptive story
Back to Ballycastle, we hit the road

Another day dawned for exploring
To the Hill of Tara we went
Where ancient kings and their kingdoms
Assembled for whom they were sent

On this hill of archaic importance
Saint Patrick came to address
To show Kings the way of the Triune
As path to be divinely blessed

A place of such legend and wonder
Yet Truth only can set all free
The Kings of old, no longer reigning
His Kingdom spreads out globally

Next to the Hillsborough Castle
Where more recent royalty stays
Lush gardens proclaiming in opulence
We’ve moved on from our ancient ways

Strolling through beautiful gardens
Each bed gently weeded and pruned
Reminds us the care of our gardener
Who waters and tends every wound

Yet hidden in tapestried corners
Desires to be those now blessed
Relying more on our politic
Than on the faith once confessed

A drive up the East Coastal Causeway
We’re cleared of all cobwebs or crown
Reminded, in God’s good creation
The Creator Himself has come down

Each sharp turn a prayer reminder
“Lord, guide both our drive and our path
May we walk as those always with You
Instead of avoiding Your wrath”