Measure A Life Span

How many times did you dip a spoon  into  sugar, drink a cup of tea, eat a slice of bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread, dip a spoon, drink a cup, eat bread.................................

 The Fall 

When apples fall

like pocket watches

among the trees

and leaves

like closing old hands,

the fog is rising,

old souls

over the green. 

There is a quietness

like padded feet

or, quietest of all,

the droplets

playing in the hedge;

and the grumpy whimper

of hedgehogs

scuttling for their sleep. 

Most of all I notice

the thud of Winters

changing children into men.

Moon poem

Desire brushing my face

like some woman’s hair.

Trapped in a drizzle of muscles,

beneath a moon

filling the world with longing

and hopeless space.

Boyle Arts Festival Poetry Competition

Boyle Arts Festival Poetry Competition 2016 has announced arrangements for the 2016 poetry competition. Prizes are €250 first prize, 2 prizes of €50 for highly commended.  This year’s judge is Ross Donlon (http://www.rossdonlon.com/index.html ) and the closing date is June 30^th. Part of the Boyle Arts Festival, the Awards Ceremony takes place in the splendid King House on July 30th.

  

Tel 00 353 (0) 7196 63085 info@boylearts.com www.boylearts.com

You Take the Sea; I'll Take the Land

You Take the Sea; I’ll Take the Land.

            

Then, growing cautious of air currents,

my ears will extend to points,

nose become a snout, eyes flinty.

I will grow a coat of hair to thwart the wind,

jointed limbs that angle to take a fall.

Your sides will be sleek to cut the water,

your face an arrow, even eye-lids planed to nothing.

Your skin will have the dapples of flowing liquid,

drop-shaped scales. By then, of course,

we will not know each other at all.

Irish steps and places very much alive in the U.S.

While browsing the net, looking through Irish  place-names that have been exported to America, I landed on some footage of a four-year Irish dancer, Oscar Donnelly,  performing the set dance the Kilkenny Races at a speed that would likely win the Kilkenny races. Take a look: http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/4-year-old-Irish-dancer-could-be-the-worlds-next-Michael-Flatley-VIDEO.html          Prodigious, I'm guessing, we'll hear the name again..

Back to the place-names, I was checking out County Roscommon, only to find counties Clare, Wexford and Antrim also exist in Michigan. Apparently there are 21 Dublin towns is the U.S. and Galway town is in Saratoga County, New York as is Waterford town.  There are a number of Limericks, Kildares; Baltimore of course, Newry, Tyrone,  Killarney, Mayo, Letterkenny, Kilkenny, Bantry, lots of Avocas, Derry, Londonderry, Duncannon, Dundalk and many more. Not surprising, I suppose, as immigrants tried to cling to a little bit of home. There’s a list of Irish place-names abroad at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irish_place_names_in_other_countries#Placenames_by_Irish_county

I'm particularly struck by the Killarney in Zimbabwe, listed on this page, not to mention Conamara in outer space. Let’s hope the Gaelic language is holding up out there.

Mind you it’s not been all one way, there’s a very small Boston in Co. Clare, and, very impressively, America sits snuggly, a townland in Co Roscommon.

Outsider

I was born in a tree;

before words rustled,

thoughts rustled.

Caught, netted in November:

the leaves fallen,

ten fingers hooked around a branch.

They felled the tree

rather than see me sitting in its branches;

stuck their words into my mouth.

Charlie Brown's Eyes

Stopped to watch

Charlie Brown's eyes

winking in pools

as the rain fell

on Lower Kimmage Road.

Earlier in the pub

a burnt-out match

and a rib of hair

snagged my attention.

Drank more than intended.

Large raindrops and

yellow street-lights

are an iodine stain.

A carrier bag gulps

on the broken white line.

Back in the hallway,

removing my overcoat,

I stop,

stare at the carpet,

pull the collar back to my neck.

Creative Writing Opportunities with writer and poet Gerry Boland in Leitrim Libraries

Dublin-born poet, now living on the Leitrim/Roscommon border, Gerry Boland, has recently launched his second collection of poems, entitled In the Space Between and published by Arlen House. 

To mark the publication of this new book, Leitrim County Library Service has invited Gerry to present a series of poetry writing workshops during the month of April in Manorhamilton, Mohill and Ballinamore Libraries. Gerry will read from his new collection and provide participants with an opportunity to learn, to share, to create and to appreciate, in a warm and inspiring setting.

The readings/workshops are free of charge and take place on the following dates:

•             Saturday 09 April - Manorhamilton Library            10.30a.m. – 12.30p.m. - 071-9856180

•             Saturday 16 April - Mohill Library                               10.30a.m. – 12.30p.m. – 071-9631360

•             Saturday 23 April - Ballinamore Library    10.30a.m. – 12.30p.m. – 071-9645566

They are open to everyone, whether you have ever written before, or indeed, are an accomplished amateur writer. Places are limited, and booking is advised.