That Worthy Wordsmith is our Anam Cara
In memory of John O’Donohue (1956 – 2008)
John O’Donohue
had a way
with words
and sounds
and souls
and images.
His words
can land upon us,
like a soft, gentle rain.
And
as time unfolds
we become sodden
from its falling.
It washes our dryness
of soul.
Yet
it does not dampen our spirit.
It irrigates our vocabulary
and grows our minds.
John’s sharing of our inner light
awakens our longing,
to know
someone understands
the gurgling gestation
of life within
our very selves.
To read or hear him,
stating those words,
provides a company for us
when we feel
that our thoughts and musings
may have consigned us to isolation.
This solace
makes him
like our Anam Cara
from afar.
Though afar
his words
convey his presence to us
with great immediacy.
In that thin place
between memory and the beyond,
John is present to us still.
That worthy wordsmith,
is helping at the forge
of our delicate souls.
Simon C.J. Falk 2 December 2013.
For some of us John O’Donohue has been a great inspiration. He was probably best known for his books ‘Anam Cara’ and ‘Eternal Echoes’. Irishman, Poet, philosophical-theologian, former priest, he had a way with words that continues to enchant his readers and hearers. The words above scarcely scratch the surface of describing him. But they attempt to at least point to his influence. More information about John and his writings can be found at http://www.johnodonohue.com and his talks at Britain’s ‘Green Belt Festival’ can be found at http://www.audible.com .
Simon's still stanza 