Vigil Poem by Matt Mooney

The penny candle wick burned on still
In its shallow well of clear melted wax:
It was a prayer to seek Our Lady's care
In our bedroom on a night vigil in bed.
In Dublin's fair city, up in the Coombe,
Our daughter was soon to give birth.


Then all of a sudden our vigil was over
As the mobile beside me went wild
With the joyful news of a new baby girl!

Her dad's words at dawn so pulsating,
Like a shot of hot punch for the nerves;
With all the fresh pride of being father
He talked of the baby's light brown hair
And the sound of her cry on being born.

Beside him her mother was feeding her,
Still tired from the labour of childbirth
But so happy to look down on the dream
That at break of day had been delivered.


Happy in our new life as grandparents
We drew the curtains to start a new day
As the light of the long burning candle
Gave out and we both thankfully prayed.