Easter

 Easter ceremonies 

The altar boys meeting 

Every Friday at five

Preceded by scuffles

With the locals from Nutgrove

Who vanished when Father Hyland

Walked up from his garden

To the sacristy in Churchtown’s

Good Shepherd church.

He assigned every mass

In copper plate writing. 

Two boys for a mass

And seven for a blessing. 

Benediction was special 

With candles and bells

Incense and chasubles. 

Weddings meant two shillings

Christenings somewhat less

But the best of the best 

Was the call to serve at Easter

In Mount Carmel convent

Where spoiled by the nuns 

With food that was heavenly 

The clean polished floors

The aroma of incense

The purity and innocence

The dream of the fifties. 

The drama of ritual

Not lost as we prayed 

In surplices ironed

By mothers each day. 

Black shiny shoes 

And gelled tousled  hair

The call of the Spirit

The smells from the kitchen

The long Easter Vigil

Followed by a feast 

To hail the resurrection.