The end of October

 It’s the end of October 


It’s the end of October on Dun Leary pier

The sun comes and goes and plays with our fears

Some people wear coats and some just wear shorts

Hats and scarves for those not taking chances 


How little our troubles when we reflect on Melissa

Storm five in Jamaica and heading towards Cuba 

Always the poorest who suffer it seems

Heaven’s on strike or just gone on leave.  


The greatest of sins perhaps to think that

Our good fortune is something we earned 

Or taking for granted what others cannot

For everything’s fine until it is not. 


Taking for granted the air that we breathe

The food and the drink that others still need

The heat and the roof are taken as given

The sin of the spoilt screaming at Heaven. 


Nothing is surer than those who don’t value

What is given for free could lose it 

In the blink of an eye it’s come and it’s gone

What we would give to enjoy it again. 

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