“My father, James Goggins, and me, John Goggins.
I don’t remember the day he carried me across O’Connell Bridge The carefully wrapped tricycle in one hand and me in the other;
I don’t remember the snug little brown coat with the velvet collar Protecting me from the cold winter of Dublin.
I don’t remember who took the snap as I pointed a small finger – A street photographer, my mother, my aunt?
I don’t remember if I was just showing him the sights
Or marvelling at this new world I had been ushered into; I don’t remember if I had just seen Santa Claus
Or if a large green bus had attracted my attention
I don’t remember anything about that unique day Except that it is preserved in a paper memory
I have the photo to prove it happened –
But I’ll swear I never had the bike!'”
(1951)
Submitted by John Goggins