WE WALKED THE RIVER
IN OUR BARE FEET
CHASING PINKEENS
FOLLOWING THE REDBREAST
THE WATERCRESS
GROWING IN MULTITUDE
WE ATE THE GREEN LEAVES
I BROUGHT THE REST HOME
NOW IT IS CONTAMINATED
INELIGIBLE
I FILL MY POEMS
I see the glory of the world
Laid out before me
And I am happy
WATERCRESS
WE WALKED THE RIVER
IN OUR BARE FEET
CHASING PINKEENS
FOLLOWING THE REDBREAST INTO THE WATERCRESS
GROWING IN MULTITUDE
WE ATE THE GREEN LEAVES
BROUGHT IT HOME FOR SALAD
NOW IT IS CONTAMINATED
BY OUR OWN FILT
HE CAME
He came TO HIS NEW OFFICE
AND ON THE FIRST DAYÂ
HE BROKE THE TRAFFIC BARRIER
ON THE SECOND DAY HE EMPTIED
THE LOCAL OFFICE STORE
ON THE THIRD DAY
HE LOCKED HIMSELF IN
ON THE FOURTH DAY
HE RESIGNED
sitting beside my grandfather on his deathbed
SITTING BESIDE MY GRANDFATHER ON HIS DEATHBED
I sat beside my grandfather
On his deathbed
His mind wild
Hands lose
Stitching a bag
Yoking the horse and cart
Going to the bog
Calling the neighbours
Giving a day at the hay
On the football field
Calling for a pass
Stillness followed
A long silence
Then a conversation
With my grandmother
Who passed years before
Of routine matters
Urgent now
Making the reunion
Getting ready to go to her
PEIG SAYERS
PEIG SAYERS
YOU WERE THE LAST
THE SCRAPING OF THE POT
YOUR FATHER SAID
AFTER NINE STILLBIRTHS
YOU CAME INTO THE WORLD
DESTINED FOR HARDSHIP AND LOSS
I SAW YOU EVERYWHERE I WALKED
IN EVERY CREVICE
IN THE SANDS
ON THE MOUNTAIN SLOPES
YOUR SOUL IN THE RABBITS
WILD AND BEAUTIFUL
YOUR LIFE WILL
ALWAYS BE WITH ME
A WREN
A WREN RUSHED BY
DROPPING HIS TONG
LEAVING THE FENCE IN SOLITUDE
I WAS FRIGHTENED BY HIS GUSH
BUT MARVELLED AT HIS GOING
DAFFODIL IN JULY
DRUNKEN BEES
I WATCH A LARGE BEE
SUCK A THISTL BLOSSEM
FULL OF OPIUM POLLEN
UNABLE TO MOVE
DRUNK DROWSY AND HEAVY
I WISH I COULD VE THIS HAPPY
SUCK A THISTL BLOSSEM
FULL OF OPIUM POLLEN
UNABLE TO MOVE
DRUNK DROWSY AND HEAVY
I WISH I COULD VE THIS HAPPY