By a Fireside, December

Richard W. Halperin

I listen to the lute music of John Dowland.

Seven tears, lachrimae, written in exile.

I read the poetry of Teri Murray, Irish,

Not in exile, except as all artists are in exile

From childhood on. Her strings: gut, and certainty.

Her poems hang in air, shining things.

To younger poets, I would recommend:

Shame. Then, respect for what is left.

Then, language: words well fitted together,

As in the carvings of another Irish artist,

Benedict Tutty. There is no England

Or Ireland in such things. There is the fashioning

Out of oneself an individual colour,

As instantly recognizable as a chick to

Its mother. Happiness cannot produce this,

Nor can tragedy, although both are necessary.

Lachrimae.

Poetry Ireland Review Issue 121:

Edited by Eavan Boland

Eavan Boland's first issue as editor of Poetry Ireland Review aims to encourage a conversation about poetry which is 'noisy and fractious certainly ... but a conversation nevertheless that can be thrilling in its reach and commitment'. There are new poems from Thomas McCarthy, Jean Bleakney, Wendy Holborow, Paul Perry, Aifric Mac Aodha, and many others, while the issue also includes work from Brigit Pegeen Kelly, with an accompanying essay on the poet by Eavan Boland. Eavan Boland also offers an introduction to the work of poet Solmaz Sharif, while there are reviews of the latest books from Simon Armitage, Peter Sirr, Lo Kwa Mei-en, and Vona Groarke, among others. PIR 121 also includes Theo Dorgan's elegiac tribute to his friend John Montague – a canonical poet, in contrast to the emerging poets Susannah Dickey, Conor Cleary and Majella Kelly, who contribute new work and will also read for the Poetry Ireland Introductions series as part of ILFD 2017.