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The Ballad of the Big Fish

Still on a bit of a Mary Oliver kick, I remembered this piece I wrote for an event I wasn't able to deliver. It's inspired by (stolen from) The Ballad of Amergin, Colossians 1, John 1, Genesis 1, Belfast’s Big Fish and the city in which it stands

I am the fish: that leaps the weir,
I am the river: from moor to mouth,
I am the cloud: that lours above,
I am the rain: the tears of the sun,
I am the gull: soaring and strutting,
I am the seedling: in crack and crevice,
I am the hillsides: embracing the city,
I am the Word: bringing all into being
In whom all things hold together.

I am the car: rushing on by,
I am the bike: crossing the bridge,
I am the lights: dictating the traffic,
I am the sun: looking down on all,
I am the boat: bound for abroad,
I am the waves: on which it sails,
I am the wind: blowing where it wills,
I am the breath: bringer of life
Hovering over the chaos.



I am the fire; of every hearth,
I am the roof: for every head,
I am the bread: on every table,
I am the queen: of every hive,
I am the heart: of every creature,
I am the womb: of every life,
I am the tomb: of every hope.
I am the beginning and the end
And every step of the journey in between.

I am…

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