Poem: For the Babies in Tuam

While our country sleeps tonight
the midnight air carries the moisture of the stars tears,
and a glistening moon shines solace to the heart of Our Lady 
as she weeps at the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam.

The pain we feel in our hearts
for these babies, and for their families,
emerges from our compassion –
revealing our irrefutable interrelatedness. 

We are all one heart pulsing.

Our humanity is connected
to these babies humanity. 
We are entrusted to each others care. 

Our ancestors, children, and future generations
are whispering to us:

“We can’t be wholly free…
until they are.”

Shall we stay silent?

Allow another night to pass
without opening up
the sewage tank in Tuam?

Or will we unite our kind spirits together and say:

“Not on our watch.
Not one more day.”

Knock, knock…

These babies in Tuam
are knocking on the door of our hearts.

Shall we open our door,
or close the door?

We each get to choose.

Who’s there?

You, and me…

The ones we are waiting for…
The ones whose voices may rise up now with all
who’ve been advocating and praying from our deep heartbreak’s care.

Beloved Uachtarán na hÉireann, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, 
may we please move along these systems that are taking precedence over love?

May we unite in response to the Great Mother’s tears.

May we bring these babies to the peace of a dignified burial.

For the good of all past, present and future generations in our one human family,
May we walk our souls home together with grace 
 into the radiance of a new dawn.