Delicate We trace our path from the harbour to a dark-stepped lane opening out onto the old churchyard. Green and blue sea-glass, a rough blush pink is clearlit. We find small rib bones scattered there. I pick up the cap of a skull. Small, its sponge ossified to a mineralized honeycomb. I cup its yellow […]
Category: Ireland
“Villanelle to Cold Psalms” and other poems by Jane Burn
Villanelle to Cold Psalms Here among the gloam owls, their cry of cold psalms I am treetops, bearing a crown of night. The dark is born. I imagine the death I would make in the strange of your arms, shiver beneath the void of stars, sing the charm of moths. Wish them against my neck. […]
“Swimming” and other poems by Eimear Bourke
Cerebral Sorbet I’d like to take my brain out Just for a day. And put it on ice Cerebral sorbet A chance to cool down and let these thoughts melt away A hollow cranium could be lots of fun My skull drying out while I play in the sun I’d go to the beach and […]
“The shame of our island” and other poems by Siobhán Campbell
The shame of our island is that we killed the wolf. Not just the last but the two before that. I knew a man who met a man who was the cousin removed of the great-grandson of the man who killed the third-last wolf on the island. Slit it he did, to see the steaming […]
“Queen Medb Speaks to the Shy Poet” and other poems by Trish Bennett
Connemara Rocks You held me with champagne in a Galway crystal glass. The light fizzed through its facets, and danced a sparkling ring. ‘No dawter of mine’ll be on time, make him wait’ you said. Your brother; our driver, obeyed. We parked at the church, set into the mouth of a bad turn. The blessed […]
