Thou O Burren hast opened mine eyes and my tongue shall announce thy praise
Strong grey, defiant grey,
Speckled, freckled grey,
Spilled grey, frilled grey,
Shattered, splattered grey,
Smooth grey, Orate pro nobis
Thou O Burren hast opened mine eyes and my tongue shall announce thy praise
Strong grey, defiant grey,
Speckled, freckled grey,
Spilled grey, frilled grey,
Shattered, splattered grey,
Smooth grey, Orate pro nobis
This painting by Canadian artist Alex Colville, entitled Horse and Train has haunted my consciousness in the many decades since I first encountered it. It was inspired by a poem by a Roy Campbell, who deplored the authoritarian elements of Fascism and Communism and the horrific Apartheid policies of his own native South African Government:
I scorn the goose-step of their massed attack
And fight with my guitar slung on my back
Against a regiment I oppose a brain
And a dark horse against an armoured train.
for Deirdre and Aileen
Ignoring a turlough’s gleam
Past ancient trees,
I hurry through Pairc-na-Carraig
To reach Coole lake;
Go slowly,
Breathe deeply
of life’s pleasures
Fill your mind
with stillness,
Bathe your body
with peace. Continue reading “Go Slowly”
Today, I walked in Florence with Paula Dominici. She is, in my opinion, truly an exceptional guide and I recommend her to all visitors to Florence. Her knowledge, culture, experience and enthusiasm for her service to visitors is without equal.
Robert Elliott writes:
I began to write poetry around six years ago after becoming inspired at a poetry night in Enniskillen, from then things grew.
It was not until some two years ago when I thought about getting my work into print, this however proved to be challenging, as Fermanagh being quite a rural county has no printers.
That fact did not stop me, I still held onto my goal and the fact that as I looked and was rejected in terms of having my work published, my number of poems grew.
I fully intended to have the new issue out by Halloween, but last week I went down with a streaming cold that turned out to be COVID. I’m almost recovered now and catching up again.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the upcoming issue; it should be another good one. In particular, congratulations to Fermanagh Writer Robert Elliott, whose debut poetry book The Colebrooke Collection is being launched today in Lisnaskea Library at 1.00 pm and in Enniskillen Library at 3.00 pm.
The Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Competitions are open for entries until 16 September. Updated information and Festival schedules are posted at www.allinghamfestival.com.