Thanks to everyone who has sent me thoughts, prayers, and wonderfully kind words of sympathy and condolences after my father’s death in December. My post about his death certainly sets a record for this blog in terms of number of comments (that was partly due, by the way, to the fact that when the American Institute of Architects sent a release to their members informing them of the death of one of their past Presidents, they actually linked to my post!). If you missed it, the Post did an obituary on my Dad the Saturday after he died. All of the support I have been getting has really meant a lot to me, so thank you all.

I want to share a poem that was sent to me (by several people) that is quite appropriate for me at this time. It is by John O’Donohue, an Irish poet who died last week. He is an author I plan to explore in more depth, because several of the most inspirational people in my life have been inspired by him. I think this poem shows why.

Beannacht
("Blessing")

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

~ John O’Donohue ~

(Echoes of Memory)