A poem of just 12 lines

Derek Mahon an Irish poet famous for his book ,Life on Earth  and  a host of poems died of liver cancer  on Oct 1 2020.

The Times has paid rich tributes to him.

His 12 lines poem captures  the inescapable  anxiety  caused by the virus and  the humanity 's unfailing  resilience  even  at the worst of times.

The poem Everything  is going  to be Alright. 

How  should  I  not  be  glad  to contemplate 

The clouds clearing  beyond  the dorm our window 

and a high tide reflected on the ceiling 

There will  be dying, there  will be dying 

but there  is no need to go into that

The poems flow from  the  hand unbidden 

And the hidden  source is the watchful  heart

The sun rises in spite  of everything 

And the far cities are beautiful  and bright 

I lie here in a riot of sunlight 

Watching  the day break and the clouds flying 

Everything  is going  to be Alright. 

Just  a para to capture  his crying  of the soul  and  I am  mesmerized  by it as I sail in the same  boat

" Mahon more  usually  gave  the  impression  that  existence was a slog or an obstacle  course without  winning  post....it was as if he were searching  for  something  that he knew could  never  be found  and yes if he didn't  keep looking,what  was the point?

He didn't  drive and never used a mobile  phone or the internet. All he required in his later years was a notebook, his type writer , a table and chair, and a view out the window  towards the port and  the sea beyond..