Phillip Hennessy, A Tribute

By Mary E. Adair

Phil Hennessy, aka phillipo, a writer of poetry, music, and life experiences. A musician, in the late 1990's he belonged to, and co-established the musical group "The Common People." A cd by the same name was released by RedMan Records.

A carpenter by trade, today Phil spends his days writing, investigating, and reading about spiritual and paranormal experiences. He made friends easily and formed lasting relationships with them. He was a true "people person" who observed, commiserated, consoled, and comforted those who were saddened by grief or circumstances. Many of his poems were based on his need to understand and offer encouragement. Some of those very poems were the ones chosen by various bands, from different countries like Holland, as well as in England, to be lyrics for songs they were recording. "Spiritual Cobwebs" was one chosen to do in song.

His poem "Joining Hearts" was chosen to be The song for a national charity, sung by Paul Salvage and a choir of children which include Phil's own. Here is the uTube link for it:UTube link "Joining Hearts"
Here is the link to Phil telling us about it and the poem itself, which means you can follow the words as you listen to the link. Joining Hearts

Here is an example of the popularity of his poetry as lyrics, in a letter he sent me many years ago.

Another Poem that became a Song

Hello, Mary...!!

One Day, Jacqueline called by my place. We'd broken up as a couple some time ago, though still stayed friends, of course, as that's where we'd started. She said something that was (to me) quite profound. She said : "A piece of YOU came back, today". I joked, something like "I didn't notice anything drop off !", and she replied "It was a piece of your Heart, Phil". She had been out with some Friends, and got talking to a bunch of people in the garden of a local pub. As she got up to leave, one of the people said, (as a parting gesture) "Bless your Heart". Well, that's a term I use, you see.

Jacqueline said it reminded her of me, so that's why she came by to visit. It made me think quite deeply, because it was then that I realised how many terms, and words, or phrases and sometimes music, songs, even sounds and smells remind us of people we have known, past and present. It's not always the particular Words that we remember about those people, though - it's the way they made us FEEL that we remember most, I think, and the words are simply a trigger for that memory.

Tea, cakes and jam always seem to remind me of my Mum, and all those times she and I sat in a beach cafe at the local seaside resort and looked out, over the sea, eating scones, with cream and jam, and her telling me how that reminded her of Her mother, too. Funny. Certain Song titles sometimes remind us of a particular singer, or band, and then, beyond that, of someone we may have been with, the first time we heard it, and how we were Feeling, at that time. Know what I mean..?

As these thoughts entered my mind, I wrote them down on a scrap piece of paper, then later that day another friend (Daz) happened upon them, and started strumming a few chords on a guitar, and I said something like, "Oh, that sounds nice", to which he replied - this is a Song, here, not just a Poem. SO, my friends' words came Alive, and all the notes just fell into place.

Mary, here is the link to the Song.....*S*
*Bless your Heart*
Phil. The Words _ You Tube Link

Although he never complained, Phillip had cancer which had metastasized into his bone structure. When he could no longer play his guitar, he obtained a keyboard to satisfy his need for creativity and music.

He enjoyed an outing with one of his daughters, then passed peacefully in his sleep that night. He had sent a photo taken of them that day and declared what a lovely time they had and how much better he was feeling. May he rest in peace.

Well over a hundred of Phillip's poems have been published in this ezine over the years. You may browse them by using this link: Phillip Hennessy