Dominic O’Reilly 🕊️

Hiya Son "Hiya son, it's been too long, How are you keeping now?" "I'm doing well, how about you?" "I'm grand. Grand. How's school?" "The exams went well I think... Perhaps even the dreaded math." "That's grand. Grand. Grand." "Yeah...I think so too." "Have many been in with you today?" "Where?" "Here." "What? Ah hiya son, where have you been?" "I know. Sorry it's been a while." "S'ok. School going well?" "Yeah, I guess it's not too bad." "Grand. I haven't seen you..." "I'm sorry, are you ok?" "Mm. Hiya son." "Hi Granda. I've missed you. I still miss you. Wherever you are." •..Hiya son.

Five years later and I return to this subject of dementia. Much like the repeated conversations that happen in a short space of time. Every moment precious, though painful. Still, it demands dignity. #HiyaSon
#dementia #poetry #poet

Plenty Denied We hear our home is plentiful, With room and food for all, Why is it then that children starve? And destructive bombs must fall? Whether Gaza now or Ireland then, It is famine by design, Though times have changed, methods evolve, Ever more vicious and malign. Children now learn the taste of ash, as smoke assails their lungs, Mothers weep, and fathers slain, and silenced are their songs. Where then is their hope to be found? Somewhere beyond their hand, It floats along the sunlit sea, And cannot reach the land.

While those in power direct the course, Never counting the human cost, To these beasts the innocent are only prey, Their own humanity now lost. Though the dead and wounded are walled in, Imprisoned by the hand of war, Voices rise up around the world, We shout and scream "No more!" We'll make ceasefire with bread and voice, With justice fierce and kind, For peace, once sown in human hearts, No tyrant can unbind. We hear our home is plentiful, With room and food for all, Why is it then that children starve? And destructive bombs must fall?

Why do children starve in a world of plenty?
Plenty Denied is a poem I have written reflecting on the inhumanity and depravity of famine, war, and the systems that let suffering persist — from Gaza to Ireland and beyond.

📖👇 #PoetryWithPurpose #PlentyDenied #JusticeForAll #Gaza #CeasefireNow

Mother Tree Speak, oh please speak to us, Share your wisdom both ancient and new, Your roots deep, you reach far and wide, You, who are steadfast and true. Withstanding all our chaos and change, Ever offer a space to rest, Setting the example of life's wonder and gift, You draw beauty from the unlikeliest nest. Nourishing all who seek your safety, In your shelter, warm and calm, You cleanse the air of toxic discord, You are charged with healing balm. Would you speak to us Mother Tree, Of the future which you foresee? If our ears and eyes were open and free, Perhaps then, we'd leave you be. D.V 10 04 25

🌳An ode to those who offer wisdom, shelter, and nourishment. I’ve sat at the foot of many teachers, and remain ever grateful for the #MotherTree

#poetry #forest #nature #tree #irish #writing

Clarion Call With anger, bitterness and vitriol, That bullies and buffets us all around, A maelstrom of chaos and arrogance, Rages with merciless sound. Seeking to drown out and suppress, Disagreement or mere dissent, To impose their ever changing will, No matter how corrupted, toxic or bent. Bullishness and thuggishness, These reckless feckless fools, That do not listen, think, or care, Where their course is leading us to. No matter how foul or uncouth, They bluster with persistence, It is our duty to speak the truth, And stand firm in our resistance. Let creativity and kindness be our clarion call, Their stubborn pride will be their downfall. D.V

Trump and Vance are bullies.
We all know that because of their own insecurities, bullies try to isolate, alienate and make the other person feel powerless and alone.

Our greatest tool against bullies is our ability to stand together. That’s our #ClarionCall
#poetry #irishpoetry #kindness

It Begins It never begins with shooting, With bombs, or camps or rage. It doesn't begin with looting, Or even a burning rage. It begins with a deliberate choice, That foundation of humanity, It finds a home in voice, Appealing to man's depravity. This twisted callous insidiousness, This corrupt poison which seeks the heart, Is so open in its hideousness, And must be resisted right from the start. Trump fascism, hatred and supremacy, Choose kindness and nonviolence, let the dissension begin in me. D.V

I haven’t written in a while. I haven’t been able to not curse, or just make sense of the utter enveloping madness, which is breaking my heart a bit. Tonight I took a step, to dissent. This is how #ItBegins

#poetry #KindnessIsPower #nonviolence

Thanks so much!! Such kind words! Really appreciate the support and feedback!

Keen to build up a community of fellow readers and writers here as the new year begins! So please, if you know any send em this way for a follow and follow back!

#writers #readers #writing #poetry #follow

Golden Thread The spaces we perceive between our self and others, are only mere illusions, without substance or benefit. Every space a threshold, and every illusion a bridge: Both waiting to be crossed and for encounter to begin. Someone must take the first step and cross the dreaded abyss. Stand up! Step out! Leap! Proceed. Your fellow sojourner awaits. The only thing worth fearing, is a missed opportunity to grow.

Use the steady bridge, and begin that awkward walk, Listen, discuss, converse or even disagree, Keep going! You may yet find common ground. As we journey on our way, the illusions now disappear. The spaces are filled with golden thread that sustain, enrich and beautify. Even if we try, the thread will never break. It may fray, or even grow weary, or better yet may multiply When life's journey has taken its course, and our next adventure beckons, we shall gather our threads, leave this place, and at peace, cross a bridge of golden rope. Onwards, to the Wonder, we shall live on in memory. D.V

First new verse of 2025! This is the #GoldenThread. It’s about the ties that bind, the opportunity of encounter and of course, a little bit of Wonder. Thanks for reading, and those who share!

#poetry #wonder #writers

God rest his gracious and gentle soul. May he now enter his heavenly reward. Rest in peace President Carter ❤️

The Inexhaustible Well The well is deep, and dark at first, Both ancient and never depleted, Drop your container, draw some out, And bring to wherever needed. Where once was barren, and arid soil, Defences built by time and pain, The water breaks down, and surges through, Each fibre and each vein. To that inexhaustible well we can always return, In spring, summer or hardest frost, That which we draw will be what is required, To bring home the weary, troubled and lost. The inexhaustible well is within the heart, from the moment of conception, Draw out your empathy and compassion, with no reservation or exception. D.V

Back to a #SonnetSunday, with a brand new verse. This is the #InexhaustibleWell . Something we can access at any time, for the good of others and ourselves. A well of deep empathy and compassion 🕊️
@helenorahillytv.bsky.social @joannesansome.bsky.social @gymforthesoul.bsky.social

Looking forward to developing more of this in the new year. For now, this (slightly longer than usual) is the #Nonviolent, and is simply the lens through which I view the world, or that which inspires me!🕊️
#kindness #compassion #heart #inspire #poetry

I - Prophet's Hope The match forcefully struck, The flame breathes life anew, A gentle guiding hand, Lights a purple candle on cue. A simple perfect ritual, Performed by countless gone before, As light breaks through the darkness vast, We feel the prophet's hope soar. It cries prepare your heart, Not in millennia past but today, For the child to be born in Bethlehem, O come prepare the way. The first beacon kindled, the way laid bare, Follow the star, Hope will lead you there. D.V

As Advent begins it is a time for preparation. It is a time for Hope. This is the #ProphetsHope 💜

#advent #hope #poetry

Image of a Christmas decoration of Santa sitting in a gilded golden chair with his boots off. Sitting back and sleeping.

Just the cutest decoration. Hard to get a good Santa these days 😅

If you get a chance, catch Alan Bennett’s #TalkingHeads on BBC iPlayer, not least the exquisite Patricia Routledge in A Woman of No Importance. They’re just bloody brilliant. Perfect symbiosis of writing and performance.

Got this sudden yearning for fancy chocolate ice cream for some reason

Post a gif from a movie in the year you were born...

Celebrate the wins! Well done Mark!!

YouTube video by Paul Naylor Stephen Fry's Gossiping Heads

The sheer genius of @stephenfry.bsky.social in his Gossiping Heads is always worth a rewatch and chuckle! Spot on! youtu.be/SNzUmSnh6I8?...

That’s a very dignified stance!

I have so far learned that rye bread may be highly beneficial, and that hemp “diminishes bad humours and makes good humours strong.” Worth a try 👌

Painted icon shows Hildegard von Bingen holding a book of gospels and holding a feather quill

A Monday night spent reading up on St Hildegard von Bingen’s (exceptional woman) remedies and healing plants…while eating mince pies. #ThisIstheLife

Beloved to me tonight “I can’t believe the Eras tour is nearly over.”
Me (after a few glasses of delicious red) “About time too!”
……..

“Are you feeling brave?”
🙈🙈

Quote post with a picture of yourself and show the newbies who they're dealing with.
Picture

Be Kind When the weight of the world bears you down, And it’s hard to steady your mind, When you cannot smile but only frown, Just remember, you’re one of a kind. When the days are dark and friends seem few, And you are hurt by mankind, Just remember that there is good there too, And you are just that kind. If you did not exist or ceased to be, The world would be maligned, For when I look at you, all I see, Is a beautiful, one of a kind. You’re one a kind, my friend my dear, So don’t let your hope be resigned, I know it’s hard to see past the fear, But you are beautiful, true and kind. So look after yourself and don’t be too hard, And if at days end you find, Though you are bruised and battle scarred, You’re also stronger, more loving and kind. DV 🖤

For the new BlueSkiers, I love to scribble. It’s nothing special. But it’s all mine 😊
This one is a fairly basic and constant value of mine: #BeKind

#writers #poetry #MidnightPoems

@joannesansome.bsky.social great to have the rays of positivity here! Long may it continue!!

Introduce yourself with some jobs you’ve done, apart from what you do now.

1. Kids party clown 🤡
2. Full time dishwasher 🫧
3. Retreat leader 🙏
4. Amusement Arcade staffer 🎟️

a bald man is sitting in a chair and pointing at the camera ALT: a bald man is sitting in a chair and pointing at the camera

Did he, sweep, you off your feet?

Inside Out Deep within each human heart, Ever present from the start, Resides a burning yearning flame, Simple Love is its long name. It is the shibboleth, our quiddity, It is the answer to all hostility, By every kindness and word spoke true, It burns brighter, refines and renews. It magnifies your joy and awe, Amplifies trust and softens flaws, Shining forth like the the break of day, It is our destination and it is our way. At last stripping away all fear and doubt, Love transforms from the inside out. D.V

Where to begin? With simple love. A new sonnet titled #InsideOut. Enjoy ❤️

#writer #writing #poem #poetry #newday