i.m. Seamus Murphy
Something about him that etched
itself in mind, so he’s remembered.
Not that we spoke, though we did,
more than likely, hold each other’s
gaze. That moment of recognition!
Or was it his repute that cast a spell,
his name as a sculptor, a man of letters.
That he held court in Henchy’s, a local,
rather than a fancy place like Triskel.
A kind of Aristotle, though he wasn’t
one for hangers on. Had no marbled
hall to walk, or Alexander in his class,
or acolyte of any sort. And yet, that way
he had about him – the shadow he cast.
Perspectives
i.m. Helen Dunmore
The mouth of the valley being blocked, we
had to park near a stone with writing on it,
that told the story of a group of locals who
walked from Leenane to Delphi for food,
but had to return empty handed and died in
this exact place. Left our car to wonder at
the setting for such an event, an amphitheatre
that hosted other dramas here, ghosted us too
as we walked and talked of Oxford- the goings
on of the ‘Poetry Set’ - your tale of Tom Paulin
being a hoot! Though you didn’t pun I noticed,
as was your habit, or riff on words, or names
that had been spoken of that day - that would
ordinarily have been grist to your mill.
Eugene O’Connell’s latest book is Unearthing Eoghan Rua, a biography and translation of the 18th-century Gaelic Poet. Thin Air, a new collection of poems, is forthcoming
Something about him that etched
itself in mind, so he’s remembered.
Not that we spoke, though we did,
more than likely, hold each other’s
gaze. That moment of recognition!
Or was it his repute that cast a spell,
his name as a sculptor, a man of letters.
That he held court in Henchy’s, a local,
rather than a fancy place like Triskel.
A kind of Aristotle, though he wasn’t
one for hangers on. Had no marbled
hall to walk, or Alexander in his class,
or acolyte of any sort. And yet, that way
he had about him – the shadow he cast.
Perspectives
i.m. Helen Dunmore
The mouth of the valley being blocked, we
had to park near a stone with writing on it,
that told the story of a group of locals who
walked from Leenane to Delphi for food,
but had to return empty handed and died in
this exact place. Left our car to wonder at
the setting for such an event, an amphitheatre
that hosted other dramas here, ghosted us too
as we walked and talked of Oxford- the goings
on of the ‘Poetry Set’ - your tale of Tom Paulin
being a hoot! Though you didn’t pun I noticed,
as was your habit, or riff on words, or names
that had been spoken of that day - that would
ordinarily have been grist to your mill.
Eugene O’Connell’s latest book is Unearthing Eoghan Rua, a biography and translation of the 18th-century Gaelic Poet. Thin Air, a new collection of poems, is forthcoming
