Did the souls of boys,cut down in France,come home again,to rest in lush ditches,by English country lanes,as bright summer poppies, So, each year unending,free to dance once more,joyful remembrance blooms,headless of the rush,of passing motorcars,in home-counties soil, Red now their clothes,heads sway rejoicing,on wildly weaving stalks,stout-hearted amid weeds,no brown wilted youth,inside worn frames, Ebullient life... Continue Reading →
New Triangles. Wear the new triangles, behind the chain-link fences, orchestra of crying children, dread anthem of the summer sun, Separate the little ones, no need to sew the yellow to their shirts, they wear their badge forever, on their skin, Build the wall and mend the wire, with bricks of fear send it higher,... Continue Reading →
On the day in summer when the old man warms his bones,Stretching idle legs on Sean Walsh park benches,Mimicking the patient heron balanced in the water,First one and then the other, pop, ease and crack,The light will be thrown off at an angle, just right. Soft tones glow, wrap warm around the moment,Drawing a long... Continue Reading →
Not Alone in the Silence.Who are you? Called to wake mid-morning light,To face the hurts and hardships of the day,For not alone, we stand against this blight,A multitude of hands unto the fray. Despite those times on immigrants they spat,Raising empty cries or barbed calumnies,Here far from home in distant Gujarat,Nurse they now our stricken... Continue Reading →
In July last year Pat Carroll, drawing on inspiration from the photography of Rob O'Connor created The Silence. This project brought together over forty-five creatives, authors, poets, artists, and photographers to explore their experiences during the first lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was privileged to take part with all these wonderful people below... Claire... Continue Reading →
In the dampness of the low valley,all rows are remarkably dry and kept,a handsome sty from rushy field,brings the wandering foot,to light upon the hard-packed earth. Fingers intertwined,hard grip to hold back,a binding in the throat,of a half-remembered smokey knee,beside the range,memories of the exuberant release of the dark bottled gift,illicit suck of bitter suds,tasting... Continue Reading →
It is a privilege to be part of this incredible 11th Anniversary Edition of Live Encounters Poetry & Writing, Insta: @liveencounterspoetry Twitter: @MagEncounters Thank you very much to Mark Ulyseas, Insta: @markulyseas Twitter: @marculyseas, I really appreciate you having my work included with these fantastic writers and poets. The work which goes into producing these two special... Continue Reading →
Cobh R&W Prompt Day IV The return of the Buzzard to the skies of Ireland, is occurring and they can be seen now in ever greater numbers. It is a wonderful sight, there are several mating pairs who have carved out territories all around the island of Cobh. In their turn the younger birds, leave... Continue Reading →
Cobh R&W Prompt Day III So today's prompt took further inspiration from this piece of sea glass which I picked up on a Sunday walk at Youghal, Co. Cork. Sea Glass.Who did hurl you that you came to rest,Lost from your mortar,At the high tide mark,Here, were the sea licks Ireland,As it takes its payment... Continue Reading →
Cobh R&W Daily Prompt II So here is this mornings effort, another #micropoem. Guard of Nature.Quack, spake the Mandarin,And the kindhearted rustled,The paper bag to pull scraps,And crumbs of poppyseeded bread,To share on the tended bank,Of the shapely pond,A guard of nature,Adding each gentle act,As they pause and ponder,To the universes store of karmic credit.... Continue Reading →
I have the privilege of being the PRO for Cobh Readers and Writers Festival. Each year they run a four day Festival in Cobh, the most beautiful seaside town in Ireland. This years festival runs from the 23rd to the 26th of April. The all volunteer committee do huge work each year to deliver the... Continue Reading →
Paper Never Refused Ink! 
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