POETRY

Dear Old Bridie Brennan and Her Woodbine Cigarettes

free verse poetry

Dear auld Bridie Brennan, We would see her around the village Or after Mass and have What you would call an Animated encounter, I was fearful of the Bombastic nature of the woman! Way too loud for a young shy lad Like meself, not realising She suffered from hearing loss.

Something me father seemed To find great amusement in, giggling Pushing us forward for the greeting I was afraid I would be coerced into.

Thus came the dreaded time, “Come on, we are off to see Bridie Brennan!” Me father is going to revel in the antics, Something I knew before even taking Off for the journey to dear auld Bridie Brennan’s house!

So there we were, Eccentric Woodbine smudged Lipstick kisses, Woodbine soaked into Every pore of the house Hanging in the air An’ a rough aul cough from Dear auld Bridie’s lungs.

Soaked in clothes, seating and hanging Around the mug of tea, mmm yes A special woodbine flavoured brew. Twas a young fellas dream I tell yea!

With every muscle I could quietly muster I backed meself away into the corner chair For a kind of respite from woodbine flavour kisses Coupled with teasing from me Father.

At last, the craic had come to its weary end, With the deepest sigh of relief, As I leave with the gift of Woodbine smoked soaked clothes And Woodbine fragrant hair.

Now is the time for a fond kind of Memory I would rather have Than have not, as it’s part of the rich colourful Characters in my young Irish past.

Bless you, dear Bridie Brennan, Wherever you may be.

Thank you Dr Mehmet Yildiz and the Illumination team for giving my words a platform here at Illumination… Thank you all for reading and your precious time. J.