In
Christ
It's been 1,000 years!
This may sound insane to the untrained
but I have felt my ancestors
guiding me
As a child I desired
i imagined laying in a tree
and sketching battles on the field
I had a spiritual calling
an obsession
i could see me
by the sea
over vellum volumes
illuminating manuscripts
by candle light
in cliffside ancient monastery
in italy
i thought before
the name Iona
i now know
the likes of where
ancestral visions came to me
On 9/11, I was called
and to the ships we all embarked
On a cruise to aid
Afghanistan
But a planned December raid
on Tora Bora
they forbade
The White House had greater interest
as it were
in getting paid
James Mattis, did not betray us
warrior monk, mad dog, call sign chaos
reminds us
that our failure for swift glory
in the caves of Tora Bora
mark the end of any noble cause
to the world
of our crews' aid
En route, on our ships' return
In anchor room I was Confirmed
by Father Scordo
chaplain of our unit's
slew
Months before that day
after getting underway,
it's like I knew
i'd joke with Father Scordo,
"Good day for a crusade!"
On Parris Island where I trained
Catholic layreader I was made
my Knightley duty
nightly from the Gospel to proclaim
though some aggression may have shown
i admit i chose the prose of Revelations readings
every
day
born and served as bard and chronicler by trade
now I learn that my desire
carried by my prior priors
Ancient fathers uncles cousins
abbots clerics bards
by fate
Scattered centuries ago
from Fer managh to Mayo
by the English
Then only boys remained
The Great Hunger came, we left
from Mayo to Ohio
only miles
from where i write
today
It has taken generations to find a home
which pales in scale
but in geography
coincidentally seems the same
From ancient watery lands
of Fer managh to Enon
Valley "of many waters"
now where i stay
the steward
of my streams
and fields and hills
here in PA
With hospitality I invite
People of every rite
to come and stay and pray
and think and learn with me
Good Father I must go now
for that is all that one can know
and in good bardic practice
in one sitting
say of me
Signed, Thomas Michael C
of Enon Valley
C for Corcoran
once for
O’Corcrain
