Fásach

Simon Ó Faoláin

– do Nuala Ní Dhómhnaill

’Gus in ainneoin gach a bhfuil agam,

de dheargainneoin saol na míne,

Tá an aisling thréan im’ intinn.

Tá clochán in airde ar chliathán na Screige

– Díon fós ina sheasamh idir spéir agus talamh –

a dhéanfadh cúis.

Labhraíonn an fiach go bráthardha ann,

ritheann giorria i gcoinne fána,

Dónn an fheadóg bhuí mar ghríos.

Ní bheadh iomairí pónairí agam ann,

(Tá’s ag madraí an bhaile nach bhfásann

pónairí ar oileán ná ar shliabh gan fothain),

Mhairfinn ar fhraocháin, rútaí brioscláin, fuilig,

Agus b’fhéidir buidéal Laphroaig

i dtaisce in almóir an chlocháin.

Bheadh braon agam tráthnóntaí breátha,

Suite idir ursain an dorais ag féachaint

ar ghrian na fola thar Shliabh an Iolair.

Do-scartha ó dheatach na móna sa bholgam

bheadh blas na ndroichead dóite uilig,

Is ná cuirfeadh san aon mhairg orm.

Poetry Ireland Review Issue 124:

Edited by Eavan Boland

Poetry Ireland Review 124 contains new poems from Paula Meehan, Ciarán O'Rourke, Lizzy Nichols, Mark Ward, Gabriel Rosenstock, Özgecan Kesici, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, and many other compelling voices. Also included is Eilean Ni Chuilleanáin's remembrance of her Cork childhood, excerpted from The Vibrant House: Irish Writing and Domestic Space, a book of essays reviewed in issue 124 by Caitríona O'Reilly. Other books considered in this issue include collections from Annemarie Ní Churreáin, Mark Granier, Tara Bergin, The Cambridge Companion to Irish Poets, and the Collected Poems of the late Dennis O'Driscoll, and there's also a short interview with Thomas Kinsella along with an essay on Kinsella as poet and civil servant. Another Kinsella is this issue’s Featured Poet, Alice Kinsella, and all artwork for the issue is supplied by artists associated with the Olivier Cornet Gallery on Great Denmark Street, around the corner from Poetry Ireland.

Available now to purchase online or in all good bookstores.