Eulogy

He lay dead on a slab of stone

His gentle spirit to heaven has flown

In death, more beautiful he grew

His eyes foliage green moistened with dew

His cold cheeks still color of rose

His mighty heart in chilly winter froze

Moonlight shone to reveal a smile

Was he simply asleep, resting awhile?

Ethereal power around him grew

Shining like stardust of misty blue

Imprisoned in time he remained

Yet celestial fire in him never waned

Max O’Reilly

Take a Knee

You crouched on my neck as heavy as death

There was no air, there was no breath

My pleas were unheard my voice dumb

Your conscious to my humanity was numb

You decided my destiny, your colleagues too

Officers wearing the official color of “blue”

My life is just a toy under your thumb

Your knee a “new god” has become

Was it because I had darker skin?

A flatter nose or a wider grin?

Was I less Human than your “white bro”?

Tell me the reason, I do not really know

It was not time yet for me to go

My death is the spark that will glow

My brethren stood up, others took a Knee

A sign that we are all Equal and Free

“I can’t breathe” yet my voice is heard

My final words a Revolution stirred

Max O’Reilly

Heart

My heart hammering as a caged bird

Head reeling and vision blurred

Mist clouding my senses as though entranced

Earth shook under my feet and danced

My breath short and my lungs burned

Feelings of Doom flooded me and returned

My mind ablaze with memories and pain

I emptied the needle into my tired vein

Eyes holding flames shine galore

That burned my soul to the very core

I gasped; my breath caught in my throat

My voice husky with a bereaved note

A prisoner in a wheel that grinds my bone

In a tumultuous wind my heart was blown

Alone among hundreds of weary souls

To suffer, to die or reach my goal

My life ends, all life joys and unbearable pain

Has this tortured journey just been in vain?

Max O’Reilly

Reborn

Broken by the raging eternal Storm

Nightmares have become the norms

Endless torment in my heart and mind

Through rough seas I was sailing blind

Inside me raged fire entwined with pain

Grinding like the clanks of mooring chain

Battle spears pierced my heart and soul

Fate had ordained my death in its scroll

A jolt of thunder revived my shattered heart

New life reborn, the old too quick to depart

My mind full of rage or my ancient pride

I covered the wide sea in a single stride

The quivering flames my soul ignite

Gods and demons before me flee in fright

My heart remains weary tethered to the sea  

Destined to drown all who sailed with me

Max O’Reilly