At your wake, open-coffined, the Irish way

i kissed your alabaster skin

And I remembered your warm, open heart.

Walking behind your coffin on this 

Freezing Dublin day, I remembered

You as the warm fire we had gathered around

For decades. Broken-hearted, your family

Displayed that enforced dignity, amid the direst

Parting our all-too-human hearts can know.

In this stinging air, our tears sought to reflect

All the good that love can do. Carmel 

Always welcomed those who sought the refuge

Of the Gaels. She worked to give her

Children the best she had: her undying love. 

But only love can break our mortal human hearts.