Little Song - by
For three nights in granny’s house, they open
her box to the rafters (laughter, song)
& watch stars fall to dance the bog. Cotton-
white they dart, like lanterned runners, dear born
Mood: Grief & Sorrow
Poem Without My Mother - by
We are still clawing Spring from Winter’s clasp,
when I tell you I dreamed my mother, how she hard-
scrabbled a mound of scree; greyed harting. Stones,
that might have pinned a house upright once, before
Darling - by
You might forget the exact sound of her voiceor how her face looked when sleeping.You might forget the sound of her quiet weepingcurled into the shape of a half moon,when smaller than her self, she seemed already to be leavingbefore she left, when the blossom was on the treesand the sun was out, and all […]
The Knot - by
At Loch Lomond they were king and queen to me,laying out their bounty on the braeafter the queasy ride from Glasgow, wechildren making sick-stops on the way.Tumbled out, we sprawled at the water’s mouthwhere light ate shade and made us ravenous.With a flourish, Her Majesty untied the clothto set the parathas free. She did, she […]
The Swing. - by
The swing was picked up for the boys,for the here-and-here-to-stayand only she knew why it wasI dug so solemnlyI spread the feet two yards apartand hammered down the pegsfilled up the holes and stamped the dirtaround its skinny legsI hung the rope up in the airand fixed the yellow seatthen stood back that I might […]
Medusa - by
A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousygrew in my mind,which turned the hairs on my head to filthy snakes,as though my thoughtshissed and spat on my scalp.My bride’s breath soured, stankin the grey bags of my lungs.I’m foul mouthed now, foul tongued,yellow fanged.There are bullet tears in my eyes.Are you terrified?Be terrified.It’s you I love,perfect man, […]
Death in Duke Street - by
A huddle on the greasy street – cars stop, nose past, withdraw – dull glint on soles of tackety boots, frayed rough blue trousers, nondescript coat stretching back, head supported in strangers’ arms, a crowd collecting – ‘Whit’s wrang?’ ‘Can ye see’m?’ ‘An auld fella, he’s had it.’ On one side, a young mother in […]
Beyond the West - by
Poem for Michael Longley RIP 22/01/2025 Och Michael! You’ve slipped away gentlejust before Éowyn topsy-turvied your landfrom Belfast Lough through County Downand on to Connemara, already budded earlywith a rosary of fuchsia lacing the shoreline.Waiting for the warm. Carrigskeewaun where curlew has abandonedthe sky, left it to its own aloneness when Springis too early yet […]
Refugee - by
Leave roof and rosebush,rafters hung with herbsleave wedding chest,and children’s toys,the beds where they were born. Leave folded linen,quilt and woven rugcups and kettle and coffee potand grandma’s favourite chair. Leave books and breadboard,polished pans and painted plate,window lace and ticking clockand warm bricks round the hearth. The stair that creaked,the door that jammed – […]
When the priest came knocking - by
for the third time we shut him outand he stood for a moment clutchinghis beads in the rectangular windowof the hospice door – The line betweencomedy and grief really is that thin –someone knew there wasn’t timefor another rosary because suddenlywe’re watching the life tip gentlyout of her like water from a cupand we […]
Haunted Houses - by
All houses wherein men have lived and died
Are haunted houses. Through the open doors
The harmless phantoms on their errands glide,
With feet that make no sound upon the floors.
The Masque of Anarchy - by
As I lay asleep in Italy
There came a voice from over the Sea
And with great power it forth led me
To walk in the visions of Poesy.