Frank at Shannon Airport in 1988 with myself,
Kathleen and mother
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A LIFE OF WONDER
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My uncle, Frank Phillips passed away at 1 a.m. this morning after a valiant battle against a debilitating stroke. All of his life a tenacious and resilient man, even in his last weeks this strength of character was evident as he tried to cope with all the restraints of his illness. Frank was the mainstay of our small family circle, and because of his incredible memory we came to look on him as the keeper of our family history. For his sister Bridie, for Tony my brother and for myself, Frank’s passing is such a huge loss, he has left a void in our lives that will never be filled.I have often referred here to Frank’s love of poetry and his ability to recite poems learned at school from memory. One of his favourites was a piece written by W.H.Davies called ‘Leisure’ . Like the poet, Frank enthused about simple everyday things as he saw them through his own unique perspective and though his eyesight failed towards the end, his capacity for wide-eyed wonder remained.
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Gerard O'Shea
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LEISURE
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What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
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No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
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No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
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A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
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W.H.Davies
1 comment:
Ah! but Frank was a man who always took the time to stand and stare and his life was the richer for it and mine is richer for having met him.
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