The Prophets are Weeping

To those on the road it is reported that
The Prophets are weeping,
At the abuse
Of their words,
Scattered to sow an evil seed.
Rumour has it that,
The Prophets are weeping,
At their texts distorted,
The death and destruction,
Imposed in their name.
The sun burns down,
On the children who are crying,
On the long journeys repeated,
Their questions not answered.
Mothers and Fathers hide their faces,
Unable to explain,
Why they must endlessly,
No end in sight,
Move for shelter,
for food, for safety, for hope.
The Prophets are weeping,
For the words that have been stolen,
From texts that once offered,
To reveal in ancient times,
A shared space,
Of love and care,
Above all for the stranger.

M.D.H. 2014

For further information on the Presidency of Michael D. Higgins please visit www.president.ie

President Michael D. Higgins in a recent photo with the General Administrator of The Galway Review, Uinseann Mac Thómais and its Managing Editor Ndrek Gjini.

The Galway Review is delighted to present to our worldwide readership, with his kind permission, our President’s new poem “The Prophets are Weeping”. By way of a Thank You, we will send the President a copy of the printed edition of The Galway Review 3 which will be circulated shortly to readers who availed of our pre-sales invitation.