Paula Meehan reads “The Ghost of my Mother Comforts me”. #napodpomo READING POETRY 14/30

you hear Paula Meehan reading her .  You hear Paul O’Mahony reading it twice.“The ghost of my mother comforts me.Do not fear daughterwhen they lift their sticks, their stones,when they hiss beneath their breathsfallen woman, adulteressbreaker of marriage vowsmade before a holy priest to an honourable manfor you daughter; there is no blame,for you no portion of guilt,for you’re made in my likeness.You can take the crucifixion from your voice.I will stroke your forehead till you sleep,Till you pass over into the dreamworldwhere we can walk together in gardens wet with rainor fly along old star roadsor sit quietly near running water.And when you wake refreshed you’ll be ready for their sticks their stonestheir names that cannot hurt youbalance your gypsy soullodged in the body given you, my daughterfor your pleasure and as a tool for struggleagainst the weight of the worlds troublestake comfort in the knowledge that you are not alonethere are many like you on the earthand you will be numbered among the warriorswhen the great book is writtenbecause I am your mother I will protect youas I promised you in childhoodyou will walk freely on the planet, my beloved daughterfear not the lightening bolts of a catholic god, or any otherfor I have placed my body and my soul between youand all harm.” #Napodpomo ——————-That’s a photo of Paula taken many years ago - maybe around the time when she wrote this poem (1998 c)