My friend and fellow pilgrim Barry Wyse passed away yesterday (21/6/22) after a long battle with cancer. He fought optimistically to the end and only two months ago we were planning to walk the way of St Declan from Tipperary to Ardmore in Waterford Barry and I walked parts of the Camino on three occasions. He was a pleasant and wonderful companion. I will miss him this poem looked to a time after COVID when we would don our hiking boots again. Alas not to be
Pilgrim brother on the journey
Pilgrim brother on the journey
Through the dusty roads of Spain
Along the path that winds from France
Through the woods and through the trees
To the plains of wide Castile.
Here we are a decade later
Needing hope to fill our soul
But we look with faith and love
To a time when we greet the morn
Walking westward, faith reborn.
The memories of the morning charm
In little towns along the way
The cool clean air as we’re leaving
Marching down the ancient streets
That echo pilgrims through the ages.
Still we sense our friends the angels
To this day the bond that lasts
Across the seas, across the years
The pilgrim world that makes its journey
Round past the planets and the stars.
Our lonely world’s a pilgrim too
Passing through an empty space
Nodding gently at bright stars
That mark the way along a map
Once drawn by God, renewed each day.
Pilgrims we, along a journey
That leads to truth and leads to love
Far and safely have we traveled
And we will travel once again
When the new year comes around.
When shadows shorten
And strides are lengthened
When we greet our brothers too
Over breakfast then tie our laces
Heading westward once again.
