West of Ireland
By marandina
- 1613 reads
Standing on a beach in County Kerry, Ireland - 2005.
West of Ireland
Standing at the far edge
of an ancient archipelago,
a desolate sentry ashore,
flesh, blood and memories
made under constellations,
uncounted grains of sand
washed by ebbing tides at
sunrise and moon-fall.
Curlew and cormorant cries
carry on wind-blown eddies,
memories of many departed,
echoes of émigré diaspora,
ghosts on silent beaches
of emerald lands fading,
indigo storms flicker with
insouciant reminiscence.
Wild sea corralled by cliffs
yearns for deeper oceans
and closing my eyes I see
a thousand miles of water,
my journey into imagination,
from the west coast of Ireland
lies the continent of America
where lost dreams shimmer.
Audio version at: https://soundcloud.com/user-62051685
Image free to use at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:High_Tide-0524,_Dingle_Peninsula...
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Comments
The Curlew and cormorant
The Curlew and cormorant cries can draw such musings. Some émigrés, must have found escape and a future, though with much hard work and trial probably.
Liked your drawing of the scene, especially Wild sea corralled by cliffs yearns for deeper oceans. Rhiannon
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Beautifully evocative, and
Beautifully evocative, and the last line really catches the heart. And, as always, the audio really draws you in.
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I enjoyed listening to your
I enjoyed listening to your poem Paul, and it brought to me the scene of the west coast.
Dougie Moody
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You're most welcome Paul, and
You're most welcome Paul, and what a lovely place is the west coast. BTW, your audio has promted me to sign in to soundcloud.
Dougie Moody
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A wonderful word picture -
A wonderful word picture - you took this reader right there!
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you see what so many see, but
you see what so many see, but differently. 1000 miles of water and America, no longer that far. No longer dreamt.
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Pick of the Day
Evocative and haunting, this is our Facebook and X Pick of the Day! Please do share if you enjoy it too.
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Congratulations! Another set
Congratulations! Another set of golden fruit well deserved
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That's my favourite place,
That's my favourite place, too :0) Thankyou for reminding me with this beautiful poem. How you link "Wild sea corralled by cliffs/yearns for deeper oceans" with people's need to leave, to be given the opportunity to succeed, evokes the bravery and strength of purpose that must have been needed for the terrible journey in the Pogues' song
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Grand
William Butler Yeats is alive and well and living in Northampton!
Grand words Paul.
Turlough
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Beautiful reminiscence of a
Beautiful reminiscence of a special place Paul. Our memories of past experiences are what life is all about.
Lovely poem.
Jenny.
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Enjoyed you reading as I read
Enjoyed you reading as I read along with you. Glad I had the pleasure of reading this and have recently visited county Kerry. Would love to go back. Thanks for taking me back for a bit. tTe ending did touch the heart.
Rich
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i went to that area too, only
i went to that area too, only once, in 1988. A very beautiful coastline. You have described it very well, including the romantic, but very cruel also, migration from Ireland to many other parts of the world, and, in particular, to America! You remind me of the place, and more!
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