Growing Up in Colour, by Maurice Devitt

Maurice Devitt’s debut collection Growing Up in Colour was published by Doire Press in 2018. Maurice is the curator of The Irish Centre for Poetry Studies site. He was selected for Poetry Ireland Introduction Series 2016 and won the Trocaire/Poetry Ireland Competition. He is a member of Hiberian Writers. 

The titular poem explores the uniformity of school days 'lost in a sea of slate' made better by a dash of lipstick and the thrill of a first tattoo. The sacredness of family arises in 'A Football Dynasty' when a young boy discusses soccer with an older relative. Memories of early years arise in 'Truth or Dare' and 'A Caravan in Kilkee'. In both poems Devitt surprises with delicate imagery, 'a scarf of rain' spoils the dangerous game and the caravan is a 'metal cow'. These poems offer an almost surreal, or dreamlike atmosphere so it is no surprise to see that 'Sixteenth of September' is written after Rene Magritte. It is a poem about a run where 'The oak tree marks the mid-point'. Devitt dwells on Magritte's painting and its 'nascent moon'. 

'Sinister' is a wonderful poem about wanting to be left-handed and the wormhole of lying and being caught out as a child by their parent. The poet becomes a magician travelling down a rope ladder into the 'O' he has learned to form as citeog. This poem is a great lead into Devitt's well known 'The Lion Tamer Dreams of Office Work' where a lion tamer absurdly heads off to work in the office. 

Devitt is conscious of difficulties in the world about him, as reflected in 'Homeless', problematic global warming arises in 'Inuit' and the painful loss that can be emigration is explored in 'Letters from Australia'. The human condition plays on the poet's mind, the secrecies of our inner lives, in 'Trajectory' for example when a man retires and wonders what to do with his time, and indeed 'The Human Condition' is a poem that seeks 'to paint the past'.

This is a book that merits reading and rereading and each poem is well crafted, painting-like in the sense that something new can be found or seen on each looking. 'Poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen', a quote attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, could certainly be applied here. This is an intellectual and mature collection full of appreciation for culture and with a deep respect and love for family and the past.