Mary Lee’s poems have appeared in Skylight 47; Orbis; Crannog; Galway Literary Review, 4; The Linnet’s Wings; The The Poet’s Search for God, (anthology, Eyewear publishing, UK); The Furrow and Spirituaity. Her poetry collection Bloom was published recently by Matthewjamespublishing, UK. Her work has been broadcast on RTE 1, A Living Word. She has a background in psychotherapy and spirituality and draws on her former experience to write and work part time.

There is a kind of love

after U.A. Fanthorpe

There is a kind of love called nurture
that hugs when tremors threaten;

when turmoil swamps intent, arms
of kindness extend;

when desolation deters vision,
eyes shimmer with wisdom;

when appraisal stifles ordinary effort,
generous offers;

when words are sincere, animating deeds;

when a mother loads up her groceries, holds
her squirmy toddler with an extravagant smile;

when it feels like Winter will never end,
there is a kind of love called nurture
that fills with Spring’s beginning.

Kilclooney Dolmen

Stone aperture,
it holds

a door’s step to the mountains,
a red-dark sky

and my long, long look
into silence.