It’s A Boy
The cynical switching of the media on the refugee crisis from keep them out to let them in after the photogenic image …
Covered Nipples Reveal Truth
“The Creation of Eve”: A marble relief on the left pier of the façade of the cathedral in Orvieto, Italy. © Georges Jansoone …
Plotting a Duel in Merlin Woods
Merlin Woods in a wood near where I live. A hospital is there now, and the wood is a public park. However, …
A Cat and I
Next door to our house in Banagher was McIntyre (then it was Deanes), and one of their cats was up a tree …
That Little Four Letter Word Called Love
This one is a work in progress. A bit bitter after hearing a fellow poet dismiss men’s romantic verse as “cheesy”, I …
Bitter Sugar
The island of St. Croix has a Granard, Annally, Longford, Corn Hill, Cartys, Cartys Point, and Madame Cartys placenames. All very quant …
Arvagh
Provinces three by waters banks By war and history defined Men with quill drawing maps Each side to each outlined. Breiffne split …
Shoulder High Let Them Carry Him – Jim Larkin Tribute
What would Jim Larkin make of the corruption in the Labour Party today? Or the roll over and take a piece actions …
Puff of Smoke and All Is Well
Everyone knows smoking is bad, and causes cancer. However, the blanket blame for all lung cancers on it ignores other possible reasons, …
Blaggards and Blackguards, Slavery, Civil Rights, the Irish and the Longford Connection
When I was a child, I collected stamps. Sad, I know, but I loved it. One of the counties I got stamps …
#freethenipple
#freethenipple hashtag is getting a lot of coverage across Europe at the moment, and is a movement to support. At its root …
Double Dutch and Gaelic at Tin Jug Reading in Birr and Portrait of the Poet as a Not Young Man
It is not often you get to listen to verse in both Dutch and Gaelic, and the Fannings poetry night in The …
Flight of Mad Sweeney
He flies over where the Devil could not walk Singing his mournful song of despair The places he has been and all …
Mankind and His Pets Are the Same
The cat wanders where it will The time and its prey to fill When of it and you its had it fill …
Portrait of the Poet as a Not So Young Man
In slow distaste I fold my towel with what grace I can, Not young, and not renewable, but man ~ Thomas Kinsella …
No Money in Saving Lives
The world in places a desert Where water does not flow, Water flows down so deep Where no mere well drilling rig …
1916 – A Futile Effort Betrayed
Was it for this that Theobald Wolf Tone Across his own throat drew the blade, His high ideals for which were fought …
Dark Brown Turf
In solidarity with the turf cutters. The latest of the poems restored to the website, this one was written a few years …
As If Minstrels Dressed, They Wear Sacred Feathers
Once upon a time in Ireland Not all that long ago When I was a young boy, a younger man People dressed …
Vibe of the Tribe: Castlepalooza and Scene of the Rhyme 2015
The Scene of the Rhyme featuring Tullamore Rhymers Club featured both in Joe Lees as its own monthly night, and as the …