Silence

9th March 2020

Just a few words today.

We should be in The Holy Land, but Bethlehem is on 30 day lock down because of the corona virus.

We went out on Thursday and were in the air when the lock down was put into effect. Our pilgrimage agents took the decision , for our safety , to fly us home the next day. We spent a night in Tel Aviv , had a couple of hours whizzing around Jerusalem where we were blessed to be able to go to the Church of The Holy Sepulchre, before rushing back to the airport. 

We intend to go back.

Silence

She will not be known

 by that name anymore,

Philomena.

They gave her that name.

She was five.

Her parents dead.

She was taken to 

the convent in Eniscothy.

They never  broke her will, 

though,

she sweated 

in the the laundry,

every day,

though,

they gave her

weak broth for food,

though,

 she was allowed,

 no conversation, 

or any time for 

childlike activities

Deep inside s

he clung to hope

of new beginnings,

a better life.

The secret silence,

loud as thunder.

the silence,

that separated,

the silence,

a tight chain,

cramped

around her soul.

Now, 

today,

Marie, will shatter 

that silence.

This thought,

before she speaks,

before her family 

knows, 

reacts, 

this thought itself, 

releases the tension,

the fetters fall, 

her lungs fill,

air, freedom, promise.

After supper, 

husband, children,

banter,

who's turn  the 

washing up?

She calls them,

sits them down,

spills it out,

tears fall, 

bathe the hurt .

For long moments,

no one speaks, 

then they hug her,

say, everything's ok,

we're here.

She says,

my name is Marie.

They nod