Irish Afternoon

Saunter slow up Grafton Street
past the bustling shops and sidewalk
buskers, their wide open guitar cases


and shy smiling eyes hoping for a pile of
Euros or dollars or even British pounds
(it don’t matter which you toss in).


You sip this steaming cup of coffee laced
with cream and in a few minutes you’ll
discover a manic magician four blocks up


near the top of an easy slope where
a raucous crowd circles round to hear
his bawdy banter, trickster talk and


witness astonishing feats, then you spy
open space beyond an inviting arch
across the street and feel drawn to enter


this surprising Celtic kingdom of thickest
grass where blue jewels of placid water
invite pairs of snow white swans to glide


along in regal pose while lovers wander
arm in arm and children sing and skip so
quick and joyful to an Irish beat.


Ah yes my dear, St. Stephen’s Green might
just be my favorite spot in Dublin Town on
this cool bright day, or anywhere else on
God’s good green earth, for that matter.