Ní Déidir Coill a Chuir

Diarmuid Johnson

Is rud gan chleití

A bheas i sochraid na coille.

Agus nuair a chuirfeas an bháisteach uirthi

A léine mhór, mhín

Éagfaidh an ciúnas féin.

Rud gan chleití, rud gan uaigh, rud gan reilg

A bheas i sochraid na coille.

Mar ní sa talamh atá an uaigh

Ní sa bhfód atá reilg na gcrann

Níl cónra ar domhan i gcóir na bpréamh

Ná eileatram ar bith chomh fada leis an gcraobh.

Ach caoinfidh an fharraige an choill

Caoinfidh farraige ama an crann, an bláth agus an ghéag.

Nífidh an fharraige cosa na coille

Leathfaidh sí a braillín ar an trá.

Agus codlóidh cnámha na seanchoille

Codlóidh siad faoin mbrat sáile gan chiumhais gan snáth.

Codlóidh an choill gan chónra gan uaigh

Mar coill ní féidir, ní féidir coill a chur.

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.