From the fragrant
tea-shop warm
clatter-chatter
to funeral still-life—
dark coats, umbrella-
shrouded natives
grouped murmuring
around the deep
clean-cut hole,
polite enough
not to stare
at the spring-green
raincoated tourist
One must pass
the church door
find the simple
gray slab, wait
for the hearse-driver
to turn away
toss his cigarette
ignore quick photo-
snapping—the green-coat’s
rain-soaked companions
anxious for the end
of this awkward
visitation
Graceful Press Poetry 
I just love your words.
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Aw, so sweet. Thank you.
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Shivers. And a bit of envy. How could I have spent 5 years there without ever doing things like this!? Thank you for bringing me there. So glad you have an accompanying photo 🙂
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The picture is just for you. 🙂
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I can’t tell you how happy that makes me – I was even considering making it my phone’s background.
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Haha, I was going to make it my profile pic on FB but that was just before Easter, and I thought it might be a bit…inappropriate. Maybe I’ll change it now.
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Haha! I think Yeats would have liked that.
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Awesome!
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Thanks, Thom. I’m so glad I get to make the trip itineraries. My unsuspecting family just goes along for the ride…
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Beautiful words, Jennifer, as always!
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Thanks, dear. Hope you are feeling writing-inspired in this warming-up springtime!
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Beautiful. Poignant lines and imagery for one of poetry’s greatest. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for reading!
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Wow! I need to digest this one. The whole scene, the hearse-driver, the cigarette, the grieving, the fans, YEATS, … yes, just so much. Perfect.
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I’m still digesting, too. Unforgettable experience!
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How appropriate you saw it in the rain. Hard to imagine Ben Bulben in sunshine 🙂
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Ha, I was thinking the same, though you do see sunny photos…
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Freakish 🙂
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I’m so pleased you got to visit Yeats’ grave (I’m sure we were talking along these lines the last time I paid a visit). And, of course, you certainly needed rain – otherwise you would have been rather cheated of the authentic Irish experience 🙂
But even though the overcast sky and rain has a gloomy feel,
“the spring-green
raincoated tourist”
adds a dash of colour and (bedraggled) optimism. Because the reader sees the dark grave but knows the writing is still fresh and full of life.
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Oh, I love that you saw that dash of green and read it the way you did! Thanks for that.
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