May You Be Blessed

This poem is from the book, 'Open To Love' don't forget to scroll down for some more poems.

Here are some of the poems I composed in honour of all the men and women who bravely fought in the 1916 Rising.

The Easter Lily...a Requiem

The Easter lily bowed her head

in mourning for the newly dead

the earth cocooned

embalmed

entombed

their memories...immortal wounds.

Kilmainham jail

screamed primal tale

Ancestors who forged the trail

...in reverential silence thread

in fearsome dread...

all other prisoners

one by one

counted volleys of the gun.

The Sky grew dark

the dawn closed in

the shooting dead at 6.am

the eerie quiet

the dreadful din

the heavy thud

of life and limb.

Outside the prison walls

lay stark

the buildings

still on fire did spark

Aiseiri-Ashes blown

across the width and depth of foam.

The Gaelic cry resounded far

for each man a falling star

Eire's plight lit up the night

with new found pride

in freedom fight

she must retrieve

her own birthright.

The Sacrificial blood-letting

would make her strong once more...

it was not in vain her heroes died

to save her Sacred Lore

it was not in vain they bravely fought

...nor in vain they sagely sought

their cherished dream...their reverie

Eire...free.  

This poem won a short-listed award at Focal Wexford Literary Festival 2016.

 

 

Up for the Rising

Unified body, mind and thought 

hearts aflame with passion fraught

they gathered at the GPO

in the fight for Eire they would let blood flow

vision alight with inner flame

they fought to free their country's name...

to play their part in The Patriot Game.

Eoin Mac Neill's untimely news

 ironically transmuted to ally-ruse

when the order came to stall...to wait

they proceeded to storm the City's gate

for God and Glory and Eire's cause

they would fight to the end...win or lose

though it be not their privilege to choose.

Too late for retreat, no thought for defeat

the word spread quickly on the street

British troop contingents came in full force

with orders to annihilate the Rising at source

eyes blazing...alight Pearse and Connolly led the fight

for love of country... passion burning bright

Destiny was sealed that fateful night.

With these men in command steady loyal and true

all were fully assured of what they must do

to a man and a woman they proudly fought

without a care for themselves...not even a thought

they bravely held out to the bitter end

ammunition and supplies were all but spent 

when the order to surrender had been sent.

With calm composure they surrendered the fight

and marched to the tune of British might

brave men and women true patriots these 

who believed in their cause...their conscience at ease

they walked from their cells with their heads held high

still dreaming the dream in their last goodbye

they faced the firing squad...straight in the eye.

Now many will say how foolish were these

 to dream their dream of Nationalism and Peace

blinded with fervour for their Roisin-Dubh

took up arms and with fervent-foolhardiness stood

to attempt to reclaim lost splendour of yore

Eire's own birthright they sought to restore...

her freedom, her language, her Gaelic folklore.

Now a century later as heroes they are renowned

for bequeathing the twenty six counties de-crowned

so here's to our heroes and martyrs so true

may you all rest in Peace and may God go with you.

'Up for the Rising' read at the ICA 1916 National Centenary Celebrations at  An Grianan.

from 'Open to Love'.

This poem from my book 'A Gift of Love' is for everyone who has experienced the grief and trauma of the sudden unexpected death of a loved one.

Unreal Funeral

Tears well up in my eyes

pools of infinity in disguise

Love overflowing from my heart

into rivers of grief knowing we must part.

I cannot see what flowers around

grace your funeral pall

nor hear each note lamenting

your exodus from this world

I cannot feel my feelings

my body-mind is numb

my senses stunned in shock

as your funeral bell is rung.

This can't be true

it can't be you

they must be mistaken

I search to catch a glimpse of you

I pray this can't be happening.

Shaking like a leaf, choking with grief

I cry your name out loud

but I know there is nothing I can do

as they bury you in earthy shroud.

 

In honour of Woman

Powerful

loving co-creator

Lover

Nurturer

Life-maker

Woman

Life-promoter

her body a temple

of the Highest-Order

wherein men seek their Spirit

children their conception

at her alter.

Woman...warrior of the just cause

Life in its fullness

Love without pause

Woman...emotional

her gifts disguised as flaws

benevolent, bountiful

Life-expression beautified

heightened awareness of core-essence

Spirited-Body unified.

She...the feminine

High-Priestess

Woman...beatified

Goddess

Woman...Love personified.

God-Essence

All the Earth's a quiver

with God-Essence.

The sparkling sea's a shimmer

with God-Essence.

In the silence there's a glimmer

of God-Essence.

 Morning Light caresses

the darkling Earth's tresses

God-Essence.

The Sky on fire at dawn

the miracle of the new-born

God-Essence.

Mist rolling inland
the wisdom in a grain of sand

God-Essence.

The birds sing forth in symphony

the Cosmos is in harmony

God-Essence.

The bees busy humming

the chanting of the Om...in

God-Essence.

The dance of Divinity

Nature's primal energy

God-Essence.

The presentation of the painting 'Nature Child' to Our Lady's Hospital for sick children Crumlin March 2014

From L to R: Carmel Gallagher, Norah Clifford-Kelly and June Farrel Biggs.

Norah Clifford Kelly Poetry

Norah, a native of Knocknacuig The Kerries Tralee Co Kerry, is living in north Wexford
and can be contacted directly through this site via Contact the Author.

She is a teacher and author of Spiritual/Meditation/ Metaphysical Nature-Poetry,
Social Justice Poetry, Children's Poetry, Prayer-Poetry, Love Songs and Gospel Songs.

She is passionate about powerful vibrational self-healing energy work

A qualified Plexus Bio-Energy Therapist

Reiki and Seichem Master

 Facilitator of Intuitive Readings, Chakra-clearing, Aura cleansing

  Norah is available now for appointments.



Norah  also facilitates talks on Bio-Energy in combination with
   group meditational sitting using the vibrational healing sound of the Tibetan Singing Bowl to enhance and enrich the experience of her creative-visualization poetry workshops.

As well as giving poetry readings,
Norah facilitates and delivers a number of diverse workshops which are tailor- made to meet group-specific needs such as:

 'Freeing your Creative-Self'...let the words fly...a Creative Writing Workshop.

'A Gift to yourself'...esteeming your True-Self... finding your true purpose in Life....strengthening your connection to your Higher Self... 
 a Self-Empowerment workshop.

                            An insight on the background story of how it all began.

"I was a Montessori Teacher and facilitator of Adult Education for 23 years and absolutely loved my work. On a sabbatical I was involved in a road accident that was to change the course of my life . In February 2006 on my way to my Doctor for a routine check-up my car skidded on ice, as it was veering towards the ditch out of control I realized there was nothing I could do so I resigned myself to the outcome took a deep breath and waited for the bang. Almost immediately I felt a beautiful energy fill the car...it felt as though an invisible air bag had surrounded me and that I was perfectly cocooned and safe. Time slowed down and it was like I was watching the whole episode in stills in exact detail...I felt as though a beautiful gentle loving energy, a nurturing energy was totally protecting me, in one split second I knew instinctively that everything was alright and that everything was going to be all-right.
Just before the car hit the ditch and as I sat there helplessly gripping the steering wheel to steady myself with my head pressed tightly against the headrest to try to avoid whiplash and to save myself from head injury, I tensed all my muscles (which I now know in hindsight was not a good thing to do). I closed my eyes as the car spun in an anti-clockwise circle and walloped the ditch it spun around again and hit the ditch a second time until finally coming to a stand still. I opened my eyes to see where I was, so grateful that I was ok and still conscious, blessed that I hadn't been knocked
unconscious with the severe impact of the first bang...the second bang hadn't been as severe... immediately I realized  I was in danger. I saw that I was on the wrong side of the road and on a bend. I turned the key in the ignition, started the engine which had cut out on impact and drove across to the other side of the road as quickly as possible. I drove to the nearest house less than a mile away and pulled in off the road to catch my breath and to take in all that had happened. I stepped out of the car to take a look at the damage done to the front there was a huge clump of the ditch still attached to the bumper, I pulled most of it away as best I could got back in the car and drove to the doctor's surgery.
The fact that I came out of the accident totally unscathed, did not feel shock or fright at that time or any time afterwards puzzled me hugely and left me in awe of the whole incident. I couldn't believe what had just happened. It had all happened so quickly, in probably less than a minute yet at the same time seemed so surreal, as if time had slowed or even stopped during the whole incident. I felt huge relief that I was alright and that nobody else had been involved in the accident and I gave thanks to the Divine for protecting me.
When I arrived at the doctor I had my routine check-up and blood tests, even my blood-pressure was normal. I did not bother to relay the incident as my own doctor was not available that day, needless to say I just wanted to get home I was delighted with myself that I was safe and un-injured after the episode and that nobody else was involved or injured. Little did I know that a week later all that would change...

I had been reading in the conservatory and as it was a lovely bright sunny day I had opened some windows to air the room As I went to close a window the small bang from the window-closing sent me crashing to the floor my body locked in pain and immobility in what I found out later to be delayed shock.
I had no idea at that point as to what was happening it felt like I had been hit by 1000 volts of electricity when I had closed my conservatory window. All I knew was that I was in horrendous pain and it was pain multiplied like I had never experienced it before. When I fell on the floor I literally could not move a muscle the pain was overwhelming and I found myself totally paralysed all of my muscles limp, my body without energy. As I lay there in that helpless state like a blob of jelly, afraid to move as the pain worsened when I tried to, I cried out to the Divine to help me...immediately in my stillness I remembered and felt the beautiful energy in the car before it crashed, in that instant I sensed and just knew that there was a reason for what was happening and that everything was (and still is) in Divine order and somehow I knew that I would be ok.
I tried to call my husband but could not raise my voice as I had no energy, I was moaning with the pain when he came he was shocked and asked me what had happened I could not answer, I could only mumble something incoherent about pain...he helped me onto the couch where I stayed very still for hours. As the day wore on to my family's dismay I refused to agree to calling the doctor or to be taken to the surgery or to hospital I told them in painfully slow words and sentences when I could gather enough energy to utter them that I just knew I would be ok. I just had a deep knowingness that this would pass with time and I needed to be allowed that time to try to heal in my own way...
Little did I know what the healing journey ahead of me would extract from me in terms of pain, discomfort and life-changes that I would have to make to accommodate my new state of disability. I did go to my doctor at my family's urging after six weeks had passed, once again my own doctor was not available and I was informed that it was probably delayed shock and should have resolved itself by another six weeks or so however by September seven months later my condition still had not improved that much so I went to see my own doctor who had her own practice by this time to see if she could shed some light on what was happening. I felt it was like one step forward two steps back every time I tried to stand up I would inevitably fall down again in severe pain. If I as much as stepped on a pebble I would keel over it was as if my body could not take even the slightest shock as every time -no matter how small the shock- my body registered a huge shock, the pain was unbearable and I would have to wait several days before trying to take a few steps again. It was a very challenging time and a huge struggle at times but I had this knowingness and determination that I would heal naturally.
 I was informed by my own doctor after the results of blood tests that she had taken were analysed and returned, that the shock had triggered my immune system into over-drive, resulting in severe inflammation of my muscles and connective tissue. The physical trauma of the accident had triggered an auto-immune condition called Fibromyalgia. I was relieved to hear some diagnosis, declined medication and returned home even more determined to continue on my path of healing.
I found  new depths to my Spirit on that journey, at the same time gifts of compassionate-healing and beautiful meditational poetry were bestowed on me to soothe and calm me as I physically limped onwards on my healing path. I also received deep tissue body massage treatment in a beautiful setting near my home which helped enormously with easing my muscle stiffness and pain.
It took 2 years for me to eventually feel I was improving, all the while I was meditating, dream-journaling and writing when I could [as my wrists and fingers were still not able to work for long periods without severe stiffness and pain setting in]. When I was unable to write I started recording the poetry as it came to me and with time and patience I eventually got it all down on paper. It took another 2 years before I felt confident enough to leave my home to attend an Artists Way course.
During this time shortly after I had been to the doctor I had an unusual dream I had been recording my dreams in a journal as I was having so many vivid dreams. I was constantly waking during the night I was restless and unable to sleep for long periods due to severe pain, in this dream a cartoon version of a blue devil appeared and I wondered what the meaning of a blue devil was as I recalled the dream, normally devils are portrayed as fiery red. I figured out eventually it was a symbolic cool blue devil as the exact herbal anti-inflammatory I needed for my body was called Devil's Claw which I located in my local health-shop. This herbal remedy has made a huge difference to my life I am pain-free most of the time now I'm so glad I was dream-journaling then.

One of my favourite books is 'The Artists Way' by the author Julia Cameron. I had been reading it for the second time at home during my healing journey so when I saw the course on offer near my home I was delighted I didn't hesitate to push myself to attend. So it was, 4 years after the accident I took the plunge and trusted that I could venture out into the world of 'normality' again and hoped 'on a wing and a Prayer' that I would have sufficient energy to engage with people again, I had no inkling of the adventure that was about to unfold in my Life......  

The 'accident' happened 10 years ago and my healing journey brought me many gifts along the way including the gift of beautiful poetry. My first book "Open to Love" is a gift given to me to share with others and so I tentatively offered it out to the Universe after been requested to do so by my fellow artists on 'The Artists Way' course who loved the poetry I brought in as my morning writing. They were mostly written between 4am and 730am as I would wake very early with my overactive immune system in full battle attacking my muscles or connective tissue. The Spiritual/Meditation poems were generally swimming around in my head on awakening so I immediately started writing them down as they flowed. Usually I would receive one poem sometimes two but I remember well one morning three poems one after another flowed rapidly to me and I thought I would not be able to write them down fast enough to catch them all, I was amazed at this but also delighted as I loved the sound and imagery of the poetry and was in awe when I read it for the first time after writing it down. I still love reading it over and over, I find it so beautiful and so calming for the body, it brings me straight into Meditation mode.
My first book 'Open to Love' was published in 2011 and within six weeks of it's printing I had received profound healing stories from people who were recovering from illness, surgery and/or trauma and who found my poetry helping them on their own healing journeys. I continue to receive many beautiful stories from people about it's vibrational, healing, soothing and calming qualities and other interesting stories from readers who say they have discovered a new-found interest in poetry and find my poetry moving, refreshing, uplifting and heart-warming. Many others have told me they were inspired to start writing their own poetry and prose and some have had their work published.
What can I say except that I know for certain that the poetry came as a gift to me. Most of the Spiritual and Meditational poems came almost fully formed some of them came complete and as already mentioned I was amazed at their content and with the rapidity with which they came, it was always exciting and joyful to read them afterwards. Sometimes I would change the order of the verses after a couple of readings or additional words or verses might come into my mind on a flash of insight. Most days the poetry just kept on coming fast and furious like a gushing waterfall. It was on the flow in my dreams, during meditation even in my daydreaming and there wasn't much let up  until the turn of 2015 when I began to feel some change taking place and the flow slowed to a trickle. I now find myself writing Gospel songs which are really poems that come with an air of their own!
So here I am seven years of writing...a trilogy of poetry later, two books 'Open to Love' and 'A Gift of Love' going out to the Universe and 'Divine Love' going to print. I now have some time and space to get up to speed on the website and of course abundant energy for doing the readings. I know I am being re-directed once more as the flow of the poetry has slowed considerably and has almost...but not quite...come to a standstill. I know I am being bidden to action to get my Poetry Harvest out!
All I can say for now is that I live in the moment in a continual state of gratitude and contentment and deep humility for all that I've been Blessed with in Life. I am eternally grateful for every Blessing for my present state of good-health, the gift of this poetry the good vibrations it is offering and the wonderful uplifting work it is doing. My sincere wish and earnest hope is that whoever reads it and receives it will also be Graced and Blessed ...

Namaste        Beannachtai       Norah.

A Gift of Love - New book by Norah Clifford Kelly

The new book 'A Gift of Love' was published on 1st May 2014 and is available through the retail outlets listed and online through the website www.norahcliffordkelly.com

Firstly I acknowledge the gift of Divine inspiration which I received when writing these poems, particularly the Meditational / Spiritual poems, most of the poems flowed as easily from me as if I myself was reading them from a book. I also wish to acknowledge the immense pool of Love in my life that keeps me grounded and uplifted. I truly believe that Love is as necessary to the Soul as oxygen or "Breath of Life" is to the Body.
Here are some poems from my book  'A gift of Love'.

 

 Just for today

Just for today do not worry

take time to ponder

do not hurry.

 

Just for today be yourself

leave your worries and woes

on the shelf.

 

Just for today be humble

let no circumstance

your ground-space rumble.

 

Just for today be grateful

in all small things

let your heart be faithful.

 

Just for today do not anger

let no circumstance

cause you ire or rancour.

 

Just for today honour unity

honour yourself, your family,

your community.

 

Just for today be at ease...

attune to the birds and the breeze

take this day...do as you please.

 

Just for today be happy to just be

breathe the magic of flow

be at one with the sea.

 

Just for today...one day at a time

learn to flow with nature's

rhythm and rhyme.

 

Just for today have fun and play

then reverently pray

in thanksgiving...just for today.

                                      

                                           Journey into Spirit

Take your Spirit Guide by the hand

slip into mysterious Land

skipping lightly barely touching ground

until your fledgling wings you've found...
Float on streams ethereal-breath of Life
feel the lightness in freedom-flight
allow gladness fill your heart with joy
as you float beneath Celestial Sky...

Take in all the beauty wild

of Nature's splendour...pure Nature-Child

breathe in deeply...healing rarefied air

abundant Love wafting there.

Embrace your Spirit...re-connect

with primal Love-Source intersect

rest in Love.....breathe in Peace

all cares and worries now release...
Let tranquility flood your Human-Being
intuit Body-Mind-Spirit...Absolute...freeing
gently return in Blest-Renewed state
in Love and Light...your Spirit awaits. 

                     

                    

Step on the path

Step on the path where Angels thread

step on the path to guidance

move into streams of consciousness

watch the Sky-dance.

Close your eyes...see the pathway

close your ears...listen in

await to hear...Divine voice saying

rejoice and welcome...come within.

Take a moment there to wander

just one moment following

regard your journey as it meanders

curving back within again.

Be still in Silent Real-Awareness

stay still and sense the Love within

feel the Vibrance...Absolute-Essence

Holistic...Healing Yang and Yin.

Allow your Spirit rest at-Onement

absorb the Love that abounds

suffused in knowledge of Pure-Wisdom

hear the Silence...Primordial Sound.

Tune in to Vibrational-Spirit

let your healing heart-strings thrum

feel body light with Grace and Blessings

quivering with your own Soul-Song.

 

 

Ancient Woods

 

Just stroll down to the Ancient Wood

view the meandering murmuring brook

hear the song of the whispering Trees

thrumming on silent communing breeze.

Just stray onto the path of Love

gaze on wild flowers hear the dove

finger-tip the waters of the Sacred Spring

centre...in silence in the Holy Ring.

Feel the energy of the stones

their familiar solidity in your bones

re-connect...to ancient lore

retrieve Life's wisdom from before...

Stay still in silence...hear the hush

from eons back shhh...just shush..... 

 

   

 

 

Art Copyright © Electra Kyriazis www.electrakyriazisfineart.com

The cover photograph is a copy of an original painting entitled 'Nature Child' by the supremely talented artist Electra Kyriazis which was inspired by her reading of my first book of poetry 'Open to Love'. Electra kindly donated this painting at the book launch which was a fundraising event for my chosen charity and which we decided not to raffle, but to gift to Our Lady's Hospital for sick children so that the children may continue to enjoy and benefit from its beauty.

The depiction of a nature child meditating while basking in the outdoors under the Tree of Life open to the healing vibrations and rhythms of nature, radiating a state of inner peace and bliss is a very potent symbol of the Art of Healing.





Divine Love - Third book in the trilogy.

    

Divine Love 

                                           

 The Crucifixion

Did you know that they crucified our Lord

I heard that they speared him with a sword

they stripped him of His gown

whipped Him... 'til He fell down

then bowed and made a crown...

pinned it to His head

kept laughing as He bled

...without mercy or a shred

of human pity

and the city of Jerusalem just wept

without a single sound...

as the rivulets of blood

dropped to the ground.

For His compassion and His Love

for His given Wisdom-Word

they nailed Him to a cross

sealing our eternal loss

then they gibber-gibed and mocked

as the women watched in shock

and his Mother wept...bereft.

On a crucifix in mid-air

they left Him hanging there

...left Him there...to die

watched Him breathe

His last sigh

our Saviour

our Redeemer

our chosen Holy Messenger

from the Holiest

of Holies

on High. 

 

                                                             

 A poem honoring Celtic Roots

 

 Goddess in the ground

 Goddess in the ground

 mysterious deep dark earth

womb-beauty astounds

fertile joyfulness and mirth.

Soulful treasured sound

pulsing of the heart

Goddess in the ground

preparing for re-birth.

Ancient Celtic soil

vibrant energy abounds

natural-labouring toil

harbouring Sacred Sounds.

                                        

Goddess in the ground

for centuries she's been famed 

most always can be found

never can be tamed.

Earth-Goddess...Mirth-Goddess

Heart-Goddess are you

calling on your ancestors

Eriú...Anú...Tailtiú.

Step on the Path

Step on the path where Angels thread

step on the path to Guidance

move into streams of consciousness

watch the Sky dance.

Close your eyes see the Pathway

close your ears...listen in

await to hear Divine voice saying

rejoice...welcome...come within.

Take a moment there to wander

just one moment...following

regard your journey as it meanders

curving back within again.

Be still...in Silent-Real-Awareness

stay still......sense the Love within

feel the Vibrance...Absolute Essence

Holistic Healing...Yang and Ying.

Allow your Spirit rest at-One-ment

absorb the Love that abounds

suffused in knowledge of Pure Wisdom

hear the Silence...Primordial Sound.

Tune in to...Vibrational Spirit

let your healing heart-strings thrum

feel Body-Light with Grace and Blessings

quivering with...your own Soul-Song.

Promise of Spirit

I will raise you up on Angel-wings

lift you up to Higher Realms

soothe your Soul with unction-balm

guide you back to me again

for I Am that I Am and you are Ancient Spirit.

You will bask in warmth of Spirit-Love

embrace Absolute...Holy Dove

in Light and Truth All-Oneness there

immersed in Joy...float as air

for I Am that I Am and you are Sacred Spirit.

I will free you from all suffering

take your Cup...your Offering

you will wonder why it took so long

when I take you to...where you belong

for I Am All that...I Am...and you are Sacred Spirit.

The birth of Christ

Oh brightest star up in the sky

glowing with Heavenly-Light on High

guide us on our path to find

the Holy Mother and her child.

In a lowly manger in this world

a whole new story has unfurled

Jesus, Mary's boy-child...born

on this Blessed Sacred morn.

With hearts and minds and Souls on fire

lead us to our hearts' desire

take us on the path of Love

to this Holy Child sent from above.

In rapture let us gaze on Him

sent...to redeem us from all sin

this innocent child Divinely formed

resting in Love and Light adorned.

Let us bring our Love and gratitude great

let us shelter Him now from His earthly fate

gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh we bring

to acknowledge the Royalty of our new-born King.

We fervently fall on our knees and pray

 comfort and guide Him on His way

oh wondrous Light oh wondrous Star

guide us to His home afar.

Brightest Star oh brightest Light

lead us now on furtive flight

to a cradle in Bethlehem

where a Saviour is born to free all men...

Why-for

When social therapy doesn't do it any more

look at your life and ask why-for.

When you are feeling low and your heart's sad-sore

feel the feeling and explore why-for.

When you hear soft inner-voice rising to roar

listen to it calmly and ask why-for.

When you know you are knocking on an open door

try pushing through and find why-for.

When you find your Spirit eagerly waiting to soar

feel the wonder and see why-for.

Profound question

Have you made contact with your Soul

since you came here on earth

have you asked what Sacred role

was ordained for you pre-birth.

Have you felt the stirrings

of your Spirit in great Joy

have you felt the longing

for great Goodness in deep cry.

Have you sensed God-Essence

in the miracle of your Life

have you met God while in abeyance

to your struggle and your strife.

Have you reached the boundless

within yourself in silent waiting

have you stayed still and soundless

to feel Sacred-Ground palpating.

Do not miss another moment...

encounter your Spirit in God so potent.



Suigh

Suigh

  

lig do scíth

tóg bog í

Guigh

Suigh

Bí i do shuí

Gradam Chroí

Guigh

Suigh

Bí le Dia

ar Anam Slí

Guigh.