One beautiful, sunny, August afternoon
on a beach at Ards Friary
I left my wee family
to go and sit on rocks overlooking the sea
to pray for Joe
and his sister, Róisín.

I looked down on a sea
that was so clear and green
that it looked almost Tropical
and prayed for Joe
and his sister, Róisín.

I watched as my two girls
tentatively entered the cold Donegal water,
gasping as it reached their waists
and prayed for Joe
and his sister, Róisín.

Children’s shrieks and laughter
carried across the sparkling water
and reached my ears
as I prayed for Joe
and his sister, Róisín.

I listened to the glunk, glunk, glunk
of waves lapping into a crevice
somewhere in the rocks below me
and I prayed for Joe
and his sister, Róisín.

I felt the heat of the sun on my skin,
a light breeze tossing my hair
and wooden Rosary beads
slowly slipping through my fingers
as I prayed for Joe
and his sister, Róisín.

And as I finally clambered back over the rocks
to return to my wee family
I said a last, quick prayer for Joe
and his sister, Róisín.

© Claire Murray, 4th August 2012