A Poem by Noela Frawley
Archbishop Daniel Mannix
The Race is Over
Melbourne Cup Day November fifth 1963
Gatum Gatum wins
ridden by Jimmy Johnson
Mum’s favourite jockey
……………………………………………..Archbishop Mannix lies dying
……………………………………………..in his cold bedroom at Raheen
…………………………………………………a single bar heater gives no comfort
……………………………………………..four months less a day
……………………………………………..short of a hundred
It’s Guy Fawkes Night
sparklers, crackers
………….bought at newsagents
…………………..colour sky purple silver green
…………………..even a Catherine wheel
………………………….then darkness
Death’s angel
is beckoning Doctor Daniel Mannix
……………………..Calwell visits as Point of View Sanataria exits
…………………………………..at five twenty-five next Melbourne morn
………………………Mum’s Irish hero gone
………………………………….her Dadda lauded Dan’s 1916 and 1917 anti-conscription stance
………………………She told us Mannix put Irish Catholics on the map
No Dublin See for Daniel still a cardinal in waiting
Black velvet sky black velvet sky
Nola Frawley is a Melbourne Poet.
