Song from an Unnamed Boy

This poem was written after I visited the cemetary at Letterfrack, Connemara in 2009 with friend and poet, Daniel Tobin. It is my attempt to give voice to all the young boys who died at the Industrial School due to neglect and abuse and are buried there. It is taken from my collaboration with Lisa C. Taylor titled The Other Side of Longing (Arlen House,2011)

Song from an Unnamed Boy
(Letterfrack Graveyard 2009)

When I was a child I ate fire for breakfast,
the dark was a lantern-shaped star
I pulled on a string with the moon bright behind me
through the world with its window ajar.

The clouds held onto the rain every morning,
the cows looked out to the edge of the sea,
until men told my father I only spelled trouble,
school was the place where my soul could run free.

That lie was a snake in the wall that was waiting.
When I rattled the loose stones, its venom fell out.
Bread that they baked held the sting of a scorpion,
eating their hypocrisy dressed up as devout.

My sorrow unmasked,they stamped on my laughter.
I was the lamb being dragged to the slaughter.

Readings for September

This beautiful Lily called 'Picasso' is flowering on our rather wet and windswept patio. It was given to us by our friend, Christina. According to its label, it thrives in full sun during July, August and September. I don't need to tell you that the conditions have not been exactly to its liking, yet it has defied the wind and the rain and never fails to inspire me. You would think it came from the palette of Georgia O'Keefe and not a sodden garden in the west of Ireland.

Oh, the dangers of reading too simply into what is presented to us.


You can find me reading at the following venues during the month of September come rain or shine:

Sheridan's Wine Bar. Monday 5th Sept at 8.00 pm. For more information click here

Culture Night at the Creel, Westport, Co. Mayo, 23rd September at 8.30 pm. I will be reading with John F. Deane, Sean Lysaght, Sue Minish and Ger Reidy.

Sunday Miscellany Live as part of the 34th Clifden Arts Festival. Saturday 24th September at 11.30am