Beannacht translates from Irish to blessing in English, and this poem is a blessing indeed. I found it difficult to know which stanza to share as each moves me deeply. I have written about my “Make Good Choices” refrain with my children. I wish I could recite this poem to them each time they set off. I love the idea of the wind wrapping words around them protectively. I finally chose to share the second stanza of the poem because of the image of a “flock of colours” awakening a “meadow of delight.” To read the entire poem, just click on the title or click on the video link to hear John O’Donohue recite his work. He has crafted a powerful, beautiful incantation of blessing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Beannacht
by John O’Donohue
…
And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The grey window
And the ghost of loss
Gets into you,
May a flock of colours,
Indigo, red, green
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.
…
To enjoy more poetry, click here to travel Penny Parker Klosterman’s blog and this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup!
Nix the comfort zone 
It is a pleasure to hear the voice of an Irish writer reciting his blessed poem. Thanks for sharing it today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t his accent wonderful!? It does add a lovely layer to the experience of the poem.
LikeLike
I’m glad you shared all the poem, Molly. This is a lovely thought to say this blessing to your children each time they go out into the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Di – the voice (and the scenery) enhance this on every level. A beautiful blessing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful and moving words. I love to think of colors bringing our mood around to delight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful start to the day. There was a poet who had lived.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve listened to him read it aloud twice now. THANK YOU. How lovely, truly lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ve listened to it multiple times.
LikeLike
Oh, an Irish accent enunciating beautiful words. Thank you for this delight, Molly. =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
So says the woman with the wonderful Irish name! 🙂 You’re welcome!
LikeLike
So beautiful and comforting (especially read in that gorgeous accent!). I can see why it was difficult to decide which portion to share. Thanks for passing the blessing on, Molly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Michelle. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLike
Wow. When “…the ghost of loss / gets into you….” That really speaks to me right now. I’m going to send this video to my kids today, Molly. They might wonder why I’m so sentimental, or wonder why I want to bless them today, specifically. But I always want them to be blessed, so I’ll seize the day. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that you are sending this along to your children, Julie!
LikeLike
I love hearing that beautiful Gaelic voice reciting the poem. So lovely. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely message this would be to send your kids–thanks for sharing it with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this. It was the perfect poem to send to friends whose mother/mil just went into hospice. Both for them, and for her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so hard to know what to say at times like that, Mary Lee. I hope this poem of blessing and your support and friendship comfort them.
LikeLike
I love this one – in fact, I posted it last week! Thanks for sharing it, and for the video.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess I missed that, Ruth! I’ll have to go back and see what you wrote about it. (Here’s hoping I haven’t totally lost my mind and read it last week and forgot…)
LikeLike
John O’Donohue is greatly missed. I’m so grateful for his words… his little book of blessings is one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree! I love the lines, too. Thanks for sharing this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You inspired me to find John O’Donohue’s website and now I have more rich goodies to read. The last stanza of this poem is especially lovely–the wind wrapping the blessing around the blessed one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved that stanza, too, Violet. Like I wrote, it was so hard to decide which part to share. It almost felt wrong to dissect any part of it from the whole!
LikeLike