A swell of sirens again,
A quickening pulse and rising wails,
The fleet bursting forth from St James,
Navigating thronged streets of pedestrians,
Oblivious in earphones,
To pained cries and desperation,
Clock-watching, hand-holding,
Our Father and sacred-hearting.
Firm grips,
The fold and clip of stretcher beds,
Shuffle of movement aboard,
Traffic parts like the Red Sea,
And beelines made back to the heart of the city,
To hospital beds,
Please God let them get a bed.
Life begins and ends every day.
………….
Máire Carr has been writing for a number of years, poetry, music and short stories.