Do Not Forget Him

How dare I ask for God to help me I who has forgotten him in life I who has lost the road toward his house Now looking for help in my strife Where else can one turn to When all their friends are gone When all life’s music has stopped And all the songs went along Alone is where one is Left with a struggling mind With memories popping in and out And the good ones pretty hard to find How dare I ask God to help me When I remember all the promises I made For all the good things he gave me And he asked for nothing in trade The knife is still in my hand It appears to be the best thing to do And I hope that you can forgive me If ever I get the chance to see you A sudden shock hits my body I awake filled with sweat and steam I see in the mirror I’m still alive I have survived this terrible dream Michael Christopher Daly March 30, 2008

MEMORY OF A FRIENDSHIP

The morning had that fresh crisp feeling; the eyelids forced open the eyes I just didn't know where I was and the birds sang without any noise There was peace all around, which kept me from rising too fast It was a calm that covered the body, which was perfect to recall the past My mind hurtled back in time, when I went on an Irish vacation It had been ten years since the last one and twenty since my Emigration There had been many modern changes, for the better it was easy to see But no changes could be seen here, In Gods haven, the town called "KillKee" I am fully awakened at last after driving here the day before To find my old childhood friend, to hang around with once more We walked the Strand that morning, Cyril Downes and I by the sea Recalling so many old friends, who used to come here, "Killkee" Last night we went to his pub, t'was after a swim in the ocean We left footprints on the sand along with some tears of emotion We were welcomed by the crowd, Cyril sang " An Old Cowpoke"and "Raw Hide" He became the MC for the evening and I went along for the ride I had to leave the next day; our time together had run out As we waved at each other in silence, that's what friendship is all about Times like this, are etched in my memory; I look back on them with glee Thank God for giving me this one, My friend Cyril, Killkee and Me

"I Will Never Count Sheep"

Last night I lay in bed and had difficulty trying to sleep I allowed my mind to wonder, I would not count sheep I felt myself floating in the air in a time machine And memories of long ago came back, Oh So Pristine The beginning was lightning fast and I could hardly breathe Faces and places shot by, with names that I could not read Then I felt a slow down, through the window I saw a sign The machine had glided to a stop, as my feelings became benign A flashing number caught my eye, that number was sixteen Above the door of a house I knew, where I had many a dream Why was I back here, at the house where I was born? On Lelia Street, in Limerick on this dewy refreshing morn There wasn’t a soul in sight and no sounds that one could hear So I let the beautiful memories interact, before I shed a tear I see myself in bed upstairs, near the window to Lelia Street I listened to the strangest sounds of peoples walking feet I heard a sneeze brought on by a breeze, with the sound of a walking cane Sure it had to be, Bob McConkey who lived next door to the lane Again a sound, metal striking the ground from a boot with a metal heel That was the Doyle’s from Powleen; their boots had heels made of steel There was old Mrs. Shinners from Moore’s lane, just shuffling along her way And the strong beat of Sgt. Byrnes feet, coming home from a very long day Once again I’m inside that time machine and everything is flashing by Thoughts of things forgotten will stay with me, until the day I die It is amazing what the mind can do, how it can take you back in time And I’m thankful to have had this moment to put it into rhyme I never had to go to the window; these sounds always put me to sleep And as long as people wear shoes, I will never, no never count sheep Michael Christopher Daly March 11, 2008

St. Patricks Day (Limerick)

St Patrick was extremely bright

Came to Ireland to teach what was right

To show he's no fake

He got rid of the snake

Now we all sleep much better at night

Blessings

While it’s older I am getting My mind is still quite young It is there I hope to keep it Fresh and alive, not stung I have no conception of age Though sometimes, the body gets rattled But that’s a part of life Get it settled and on with the battle I have never been on a diet I have worked out so very little I have eaten everything on my plate And I am anything but brittle Yes, I’ve had a few setbacks But not enough to break the rock Thank God for all his blessings And I come from great auld stock Then what keeps it all together When attacked from around the bends It’s the strength and love of family And connection with dear old friends Michael Christopher Daly March 1, 2008