Monday, November 9, 2009

N81 Late March


For N81

By Dorothy Smith.

Hidden Histories

13 Sept. – 9 Oct. 2009










N81 Late March



two hundred thousand three hundred and twenty five

two hundred thousand three hundred and twenty six

two hundred thousand three hundred and twenty seven

two hundred thousand three hundred and twenty eight


too many snowflakes to count, a confounding softness

traffic peters to nothing, silence rushes in

pale quiet spreads and settles softly on the ground

a white van, swanlike, glides slowly towards Tullow


I cannot count the flakes, I count the footsteps missing in the snow

the Byrne boys in Birmingham, Billy, gone to Glasgow,

all of the Powers except Granny Power, still next door

Imelda, who I always liked, with the black baby, gone, somewhere


N81, this feckin’ road leads everywhere and nowhere

taking, always taking, never bringing back

a few hours peaceful, in its coat of bridal white

soon it will revert to lonely emigration black



Martin Swords

September 2009

Wicklow Writers


Poetry Day

October 1st 2009

The Courthouse Arts Centre

Tinahely

Co. Wicklow

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