Gerry McDonnell
Seeking Favours
In the 1900’s churches were refuges for women. To seek solace in drink was frowned upon. It was alright for the men. The presumption was that their bodies could take it. The women found consolation in prayer and devotion. My aunt, who never married, was a regular church goer. Sunday Mass was never enough for her. She frequented churches every evening after a day’s work as a Post Office Mistress. She went on pilgrimages to places like Medigoria, long before they became popular. She denied herself comforts, sleeping with just one blanket in winter. However, she lived her faith and was generous to us when we hit on hard times. She would slip my mother a ten shilling note in the gloom of her front room. The lights were never switched on until the last traces of brightness had left the sky.
at the feet of saints old women whispered fervently
About the Author
Gerry McDonnell was born in Dublin 1950. He has had five collections of poetry and a novella published. He has written drama for stage, radio and television. In recent years he has been writing haibun and haiku. Some of these have been published in The Haibun Journal, Seashores and The Galway Review. Haibun have been accepted for the forthcoming issues of Drifting Sands and Presence magazines. He is a member of the Writers’ Guild of Ireland and the Writers’ Union.