Ages Apart 

Ages Apart

I was talking to Pytheas of Massilia on Friday.

He was still in the grip of a cold he caught

returning from Thule.

Twas as if the world’s oldest albatross

– whom some call Wisdom –

sang with a bee hummingbird

that fled Cuba from Irma to Cork.

Such was the storm song …

such the Artic bass …

My Greek lapsed as I left the Parthenon,

his Irish, foreign, tinged with Scots Gallic,

guttural.

We stuck to sign language,

ice on his fingernails.

I put that down to the disgrace

that few believed his stories.

Wrapped in song,

building melody

on staves of flesh,

major and minor,

there was little between us.

Harmony.

Ceremony.

Destiny.


Two men with hearts

dependant on blood

lightly to coagulate

in hurricanes predicted to return

(and persist).

__________________

I must tell Tim Miller

Pytheas read his poem

in the Shetlands,

despite the middle-aged ‘stupidity’

never learned from pilgrims.

Smiles we made over gin and tonic,

over ice.


We called our chorus

‘Brothers from Earth’


We are brothers from Earth,

conceived in shadows’ stage,

conjoined and free in birth,

alive in every age.

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Paul O'Mahony

I'm Paul O'Mahony - living in Cork - Father - Poet - member of Toastmasters International - Business storytelling consultant - Podcaster - Blogger - Foodie - Loves to connect with people. . linkedin.com/in/paulhomahony

3 thoughts on “Ages Apart ”

  1. Hi Paul, many years have passed but it would be so good to see you again. I am hoping to be at a wedding in Cavan in August 2018 and plan to travel in my motor-home (some call it a “van”) so that I can bring my dog and make a shortish holiday of it. I’ve looked at some of your poems and they stimulate my thoughts of years past: London Transport, our famous courses, attempting golf, writing books, being at your wedding, etc., etc.
    It would be so good to see you. Best wishes from Derbyshire. Barry

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    Reply

      1. Hi Paul, I hope that you, Edelle, Grace and your families are all fit and well and ignoring the things that don’t really matter.
        Sadly I have had to cancel my trip to Ireland this month as I am waiting for some corrective procedures for my spine. Hopefully I will be travelling to Ireland before too long: I’ll let you know as details become clear. Best wishes. Barry

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