The fiery prophet Moses, found in the stark plateau of Horeb that the everlasting tree of life continually burns, and the universe keeps evolving; having been the favourite of the ancient Yahweh, he passed away in the powerful clasp of the Omnipotent. Our fellow resident, who lived a prolonged, unremarkable existence in his inherited home situated at the rear of a darkened narrow lane and who had a fondness for halting by the muddled ditches lining the track, has departed. He was blessed with a subtle kiss on his lips by the kind-hearted Christ. Now, John-James’ body is transported along the same paths where cows once tread, his mind filled with wisdom and the ancient covenant of Moses.
The rural landscapes and frequently travelled routes will accept every demise as they would welcome rainfall, a flock of swans, or a failed harvest. Thus, the elderly gentleman is gradually advancing along our primeval column, while at junctions and by the farmhouse-gates and kitchen entrances, neighbours pause to let the funeral procession pass; to pay their respects to a sense of something they can’t quite grasp. For in our innermost cores, we will welcome the spirits who roam our winter shelters and summer courtyards, converse about age-old tales, regional pasts, and the promised paradise. John F Deane’s latest works include Selected and New Poems (Carcanet) and his recollections, Song of the Goldfinch (Veritas).
As we journey down our spiritual pivot point, at junctions and thresholds of farms and homes, peers anticipate procession’s march, preparing a tribute to an unknown, uncertain entity. Deep within us, we’ve come to admit the spirits that rove around our frigid shelters in winter, and our sunlit enclosures in summer, exchanging tales of traditional mythologies, reciting chronicles of our community and whispers of the utopian realm. The latest works of John F Deane include a compilation of carefully chosen and freshly created poems published by Carcanet, and a story of nostalgia titled ‘Song of the Goldfinch’, issued by Veritas.