Boy with Kite

I took this photo of a statue in Bettystown at the weekend. It made me think of this quote:

Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.

Anais Nin

Shot Glass Journal Issue 9 now online

Shot Glass Journal issue 9 is now online.  My poem Towel is included and I am delighted that it has found such a nice home. 

You can read it by following this link: http://www.musepiepress.com/shotglass/orla_fay1.html

I have to say that I really enjoy this journal and that there are some lovely gems of poetry within its confines.  It is also great that it reaches an international audience. 

Well done to all involved!

 

Boyne Writers' Group AGM

Boyne Writers' Group AGM took place last Thursday in the Castle Arch Hotel. The group looked back on a successful year.  Boyne Berries 11 & 12 were launched by Michael Slavin and Professor Gregory Castle. The Boyne Readings and open mic ran for three months in April, May & June. The late Tommy Murray read in May.  Michael Farry published his debut poetry collection Asking for Directions with Doghouse Books. I launched my poetry chapbook Drawn to the Light in June.  Evan Costigan took first prize in The Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Competition.  The Group took part in the Battle of the Books at the annual Swift festival losing to The Meath Writers' Circle despite a perfect score of 10 from Michael Farry. Caroline Carey Finn organised a writing workshop for group members with tutor Barbara Smith.

Paddy Smith was returned chairman at the 2013 AGM.  Caroline Carey Finn is elected vice chairperson, Michael Farry secretary and Barbara Flood treasurer. A committee was also elected composed of three members; Anne Crinion, Tom Dredge and myself.  It is hoped that the Boyne Readings will return later in the year.  Boyne Berries 13 will be launched by Tom French on Thursday, 21st March.  Other business discussed included finances, possible workshops, the Internet in publishing, social media, editing and The Swift Festival.  Paddy Smith delivered an interesting chairman's address.

The next Boyne Writers' Group meeting will take place on Thursday, 21st February.

arduus ad solem!

Shot Glass Journal 9



Shot Glass Journal 9 will be published soon.  I will have a poem included in this next issue.  Last year my poem The Healing Land appeared in issue 6. 

Shot Glass Journal is an on-line poetry journal devoted to short poetry. Where other poetry journals publish poems of various lengths and forms, Shot Glass focuses on both free verse and form poetry of 16 lines or less. Shot Glass Journal believes in fostering emerging talent as well as publishing well established poets.

Ó Bhéal Guest Poet Line-up for February / March

Karl Parkinson – 4th February
Anne Fitzgerald – 11th February
James Lawless – 18th February
Niamh Boyce – 25th February
With earlier Wordshop from 7pm Cahal Dallat – 4th March
In association with Foras na Gaeilge Joe Steve Ó Neachtain – 11th March
Maurice Devitt and Orla Fay – 18th March
Ann Joyce – 25th March
The night begins with a Poetry Challenge starting around 9- 9.30pm. Guest poets begin about 10.00pm for between 30-45 minutes, after which there is the usual open-mic session. Be sure to come early to get good seats!

I've never been to Cork City so I am really looking forward to the journey, the reading and to meeting Maurice Devitt and lots of interesting people I'm sure.

visit: www.obheal.ie

youtube: www.youtube.com/obheal

Ó Bhéal is held every Monday in the Hayloft, upstairs at The Long Valley, Winthrop Street, Cork. See the map: www.obheal.ie/map

She Dwelt Among The Untrodden Ways

"SHE DWELT AMONG THE UNTRODDEN WAYS"

          SHE dwelt among the untrodden ways
            Beside the springs of Dove,
          A Maid whom there were none to praise
            And very few to love:

          A violet by a mossy stone
            Half hidden from the eye!
          --Fair as a star, when only one
            Is shining in the sky.

          She lived unknown, and few could know
            When Lucy ceased to be;                                   10
          But she is in her grave, and, oh,
            The difference to me!

William Wordsworth

Love at First Sight

Love at First SightWislawa Szymborska

Both are convinced that a sudden surge of emotion bound them together. Beautiful is such a certainty, but uncertainty is more beautiful. Because they didn't know each other earlier, they suppose that nothing was happening between them. What of the streets, stairways and corridors where they could have passed each other long ago? I'd like to ask them whether they remember-- perhaps in a revolving door ever being face to face? an "excuse me" in a crowd or a voice "wrong number" in the receiver. But I know their answer: no, they don't remember. They'd be greatly astonished to learn that for a long time chance had been playing with them. Not yet wholly ready to transform into fate for them it approached them, then backed off, stood in their way and, suppressing a giggle, jumped to the side.

There were signs, signals: but what of it if they were illegible. Perhaps three years ago, or last Tuesday did a certain leaflet fly from shoulder to shoulder? There was something lost and picked up. Who knows but what it was a ball in the bushes of childhood. There were doorknobs and bells on which earlier touch piled on touch. Bags beside each other in the luggage room. Perhaps they had the same dream on a certain night, suddenly erased after waking. Every beginning is but a continuation, and the book of events is never more than half open. -translated by Walter Whipple