Written Beside a Stone to Paul Smith

Paul Smith was a writer Id never heard of, till I read a plaque to him. A woman walked by... and I immortilised her in verse...

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Written Beside a Stone to Paul Smith

Nov 13, 2012 ~ Written by Tomás �" Cárthaigh 

Offices across the canal from Charlemont Street in Dublin. Photo Tomas O Carthaigh (c)2010

Opposite this stone he lived it says
Of him I have not read before
Opposite the canalbanks where I sit, but behind
On hinge, was his hall door

Beside the Canal at Charlemeont Street
New offices shining stand
What contrast: the ruined economy of today
And the bright future that was planned.

Wary I walked past the flats
Beside which I wished not to stop
But for refreshement I had to
To go into the open opposite shop.

And past me a woman walks
With a dalmation dog on a lead
Anonymous and unknowing
That a poet commits the deed

About her writing, that she was there
At the same time as I
Write poetry on a park bench
As she and her dog walk by…

Such is life, but coincidence
As by each other we pass
Each going about their day
Walking on paement and grass…

Prehaps in Birr or Tullamore
Or even in Banagher town
A plaque to me for writing might be placed
For by vandals to be torn down.