jerm curtin

Important People
Jerm Curtin

Let us remember important people,
those who pass in silent planes
parcelling out the sky above our heads;
let us think of them in prayers.

If they ever descend among us,
may awed faces greet them.
Let them be given the blessing
of our parish priest and curate.

May the mayor and county councillors
prepare warm speeches
for the official welcome to be held
in the carnival field marquee.

I'd sing the praise of important people,
if only I were allowed,
and local beauties would present them with
generous bouquets of flowers.

In traditional dress, let us perform
our stirring native dances
before a banquet where we'd serve
the best of our local produce –

our salmon and trout, our local wines,
the fruit of our fields and rivers;
let the VIPs have their fill
of our famous homemade liqueurs.

And when they fold their drawing boards up,
and return to their planes,
let us wish them a safe passage
and remember them in our prayers.

Jerm Curtin is from West Cork but lives inSpain.