Smorgasbord Poetry – Dorothy Cronin (1949 – 2006) – Her poem ‘Immortality’

It is 12 years since our family lost a dear and much loved mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She is still missed. I originally shared this at Easter 2014….

‘Immortality’ by Dorothy Cronin

Immortality

Those I have loved
Flow gently around me
In the scent of flowers:
Here a compassionate rose,
Here woodbine,
Here the sweet scent of clove carnations.
Temper them with the sound
Of crickets in hot grass,
Of a lark above crumbling cliffs,
Of the whisper and crash of the sea
And I am part
Of the Maker’s heartbeat.

 

©Dorothy Cronin Rainbows in Amber 2007

About Dorothy Cronin by David Cronin

Dorothy was always a prolific writer, and in the introduction to an earlier collection she wrote … “As long as I can remember, words and the rhythms of speech have fascinated me. I was drawn early into reading poetry, but did not begin to write poetry until I was 13. I was instantly hooked, and, through dry and fertile periods, have remained so…” She has produced some wonderful work since then, and this collection holds just a few of these jewels.

In the year before her untimely death, in April 2006, Dorothy and I had discussed the publication of a collection of her poetry, and she was in the process of selecting poems and creating a number of short, themed groups for publication. Unfortunately, that process was cut short and we shall never know her final choices. However, this collection comes mainly from her own personal favourites.

I believe that anyone who reads these poems cannot fail to be moved: be it to tears, laughter or just a wry smile. They show a keen observation of the world she lived in; a profound insight into the people about her; the perception to find beauty in the simplest of things; and above all, the ability to encapsulate a moment of feeling in a package of words.

My one regret is that she is not here to see the impact that her words will have.

I will be sharing a number of Dorothy’s poems during April in tribute to a remarkable woman and friend.