A Bowl of Rice Always

A Bowl of Rice Always





A fractured home
A distanced heartache

A chopstick, an empty cup
A windchime in a garden

A bowl of rice
Always the small things





Martin Swords
May 2009

Wicklow Arts Festival 2009

Young Writers Poetry Event ‘09 

There was a great entry from young poets in this event, part of The Arts Festival ‘09 

Wicklow Writers group were invited to judge the entries and present the prizes.  

The judges said “young people today write in a very grown-up way,

and on deep grown-up themes, like adults of earlier years – it’s amazing! ” 
 

Pictured at the presentation in Wicklow Library with

Martin Swords (Wicklow Writers) and Eliza Kane (Wicklow Arts Festival 2009)

are three young Prize-winning poets –  

Alison Fahey,  Promise Owoeye,   and Hannah Plomp, (right)  

“Congratulations, and keep writing!” 

Poems by Carol Boland

Last tango in Venice

 

An Argentine mist rises

over Piazza San Marco

braces a drawing room

lined with arcane arches

and stirring tandas.

A dancer strides under

the moon lamps

leads a blushing man,

spreading into autumn,

out from a grand café.

This raven-haired willow

in short, red skirt

keeps him close

walks a rhythmic pulse,

ankles and knees brushing

as one leg passes the other,

toe of her stiletto

drawing patterns on the tiles.

Eyes almost touching lips

she tugs and pushes

turns and dips, hesitates

elongates in slow measured moves

keeps him close, 

chest-to-chest,

like a visual heart-to-heartbeat

a living act smouldering

in his moment.

 

In failing days

he would ask his ashen-faced visitors

Have you ever danced the tango in Venice?

 

Witchcraft

 

The night I landed in Kilanerin

tangled in oak and willow

I heard the screech of a banshee.

 

Raddled soul of death

she pierced the air

in her grey hooded cloak

or maybe the shift of the unshriven dead -

though I did not witness her.

 

Prophetic screams disturbed

my moon that night

loosened the dust from its fringe

to fall upon the wings

of an unsuspecting barn owl

hunting the dusk

for his snoring brood’s tea

 

scaring the bejeyus out of me.

 

 

 

Broad Casting by Martin Swords

                                           

 

The Bishop and The Priest, The Teacher,

Doctor, Auctioneer,

these were the Grey Gods of the Grey Fifties

Even the Politician and the Merchant

had to pay Respect, to gain Respect.

Knowledge was broadcast at us

Like seed scattered on an empty field.

We were told the answers to the questions

we didn’t dare to ask.

 

Then the men in hornrim glasses spoke.

With no mention of God the new

black and white God spoke in every livingroom.

It told us what we ought to know,

it opened doors and shone light in the shadows

where the grey sins lay hidden by the Grey Gods.

We thought we were seeing.

 

The new Grey God lives among the stars.

In glorious colour it speaks,

it tells the news, it makes the news,

it tells us what it is we ought to know.

A black and white view in colour.

The old Grey Gods look on, green with envy.

The strings they pulled were never as long,

strong or well played as this brash messenger.

This full colour God in the sky.

We still think we’re thinking.

Nothing changes but the colour.

 

 

 

Martin Swords

Jan 2009

 

                 

(“Broadcast” was originally an adjective and adverb, and meant literally “scattered widely”, particularly in the farming context of sowing seeds.)

 

Wicklow Library at Christmas

Over the Christmas period Wicklow Writers were delighted, as always, to be able to work with Wicklow Library.  On December 18^th a group of literary enthusiasts gathered to listen to mix of seasonal poetry and prose.  Guests were invited to read their own work or tell a story from their own experiences of Christmas.  The evening was rounded off with a song, some mince pies and a glass of wine.    

The following Saturday Wicklow Writers gathered in the library again, this time to read seasonal tales to children.  We read while the children chewed sweets – pleasing children is always easy!

 

The Courthouse Arts Centre

Pictured here are some Wicklow Writers members who were invited to read at the Courthouse Café Gig in the Courthouse Arts Centre in Tinahely Co Wicklow

It was arranged by Carol Boland with Frank Gallaher. Martin Swords and Edward Ryan read a selection of their work including pieces from the Voices from the Shore CD

Lee Dunne at Wicklow Writers

We were delighted to have author Lee Dunne join us for one of our Monday night meetings in September.  He entertained us with stories of his career while also giving generously from his wealth of knowledge as a writer.   The group found his talk both inspirational and encouraging.