Category Archives: Uncategorized

Some major news. My collection of poetry called The Singing Hollow has been accepted for publication by Alba Publishing. Launch details are to follow after the book has been printed. I am delighted.

Aughacasla Strand

The wide bay is shaped like a horseshoe.
The sand fills the pools and algae covers 
the rocks. The wash comes in then goes out 
with a crash. My debts pile up, drag
me down. I lost my job and my world shakes.
I seek to clear my head as it pounds
then run to find an answer, make an imprint
of feet. I release my thoughts into the waves
which pull back, leaving the shingle shining
in rusted browns, yellows, reds and blues.

Rented House

As you open the front door 
the light through the fan window is lost for a while.

Dampness from mouldy walls wets the window.
A door may be slammed,
keys lost, or an argument had over unpaid bills.
The spark of anger is doused
as you keep your distance.

The shape that you carry from house to house
is a suitcase. The views from various bedrooms
changes over the years.

Through the neighbour’s window
a family sits down to a hot meal
and the steam clouds the glass.

Photo Credit drmakete lab on Unsplash

I won third place in the South Dublin Libraries Poetry Competition for a poem called Brú na Bóinne. This poem is about Newgrange. Here’s the poem to read.

Brú na Bóinne 

The mist rolls over the hills and stays
around the approach road. The sun is a pale disc. 
Light comes through in odd glimmers.

People are dressed like druids, carrying staffs, 
playing bodhrans and chanting. A druidess says 
she has cleaned the ley lines back to their old joy.

We go into the inner chamber
and the heat from this tomb warms me.
We could stay in here protected from the cold

and the harsh realities outside.
The mist subsides and light comes up 
the passage to consummate a new year.

A poem called Sunset at Finisterre was published in issue 9 of Impossible Archetype. Thanks to Mark Ward for publishing it. You can download a copy of the issue for free here https://impossiblearchetype.wordpress.com/9-2/

I found out that I was shortlisted in a haibun award. I got an honourable mention in the Genjuan International Haibun Competition 2021. This is quite a prestigious award.

Haibun is a combination of prose and haiku or tanka. You can check out the details of the award here https://hailhaiku.wordpress.com/

The haibun is called Village Clean Up and it will appear in The Haibun Journal in due course.

Delighted to receive a copy of Stories Under Every Rock anthology from the British Haiku Society. Haibun is a combination of prose and haiku/tanka poetry. It’s quite a difficult form to write in as it is so demanding. This is my first haibun in print. If you wish to get a copy of the anthology please get in touch with the British Haiku Society.

I was pleased to find out today that a haiku of mine was picked as a runner up for the seasonly Museum of Haiku Literature Award in the February 2021 of Blithe Spirit. A nice surprise.

boiling kettle
steam wets
the small window

That’s the haiku in question. Thanks for eddy lee for selecting the haiku.

A review of the Green Carnations anthology was published in GCN recently. See the link here to read it. The review quotes an extract from my poem Count Day. https://gcn.ie/new-irish-anthology-sheds-light-lgbtq-experience-2021/

A poem of mine called Departure was published in a journal called Beir Bua for their second issue. Please check out their website https://beirbuajournal.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/issue-2-15.pdf and download the issue here. The poem is on page 42. Enjoy.

Some great news. 6 poem of mine where accepted for publication in the Green Carnations Anthology. This finally arrived today. It’s a great looking anthology and I look forward to reading it. I have 10 copies so if anyone wishes to purchase one the please email me on deeinireland@gmail.com