Gerry Mc Donnell was born and lives in Dublin. He was educated at Trinity College where he edited Icarus literary magazine. He has had six collections of poetry published and a novella. He has also written for stage, radio, television and opera. His writing has been translated into Breton, French, Russian and Romanian. In 2022 a collection of haibun, haiku and senryu, called A Kiss was published by Alba Publishing. His latest book called A Life Reclaimed, is a selection of his writing over the last thirty years, published by Alba Publishing  in 2024. He is a member of the Irish Writers Union.

After The Fall

By Gerry Mc Donnell

At the baptismal font, a trickle of water, blessed by a priest, a paedophile? A legitimate question these days. At one time water from a stream sufficed. Without it, Satan can enter the body. Even with it, his works can be seen. Free will. War (thou shalt not kill), rape, man-made mass deaths. First Holy Communion, a child’s first reception of the body and blood. Can you believe it? Walking back from the altar with the host stuck to the roof of the mouth. Confirmation, a bishop’s slight slap on the face, intrusive nevertheless, (a blow of a pliers on the cheek bone for not knowing the Angelus, in third class), anointing with chrism or holy oil, prayers that invoke the Holy Spirit. We are after all, Christian soldiers. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. Really? The Longest Day at The Strand. Haven’t seen action? What can you know? And what of the ones who have lapsed? Pride, the most demonic, adamant, contempt for authority. Non Serviam. Excommunication – members of the Communist Party, and even some in the Irish Republican Army. Repent and be reconciled to receive the sacraments; at another time, maybe. Some leave it late; the Last Rites. Some wave away the priest, preferring to face death alone. Perhaps, just a void, after all?