Tinteán

A New Dawn of Words by Helen Harrison

I try to let time pass,
Slowly – as always,
Yet it still
Goes fast
Beauty of Words….

Ordinary life dimmed
Yet not put out
By this glorious light.

Peace surrounds me
Like a forgotten vale:
Un-earthed from childhood:
A forgotten state of grace.

A web of story-telling –
In a different place
This time….

Helen Harrison was raised on the Wirral, seven miles from Liverpool, by Irish parents,  and has lived most of her adult life in Co Monaghan, where she is married with a grown-up daughter. Has had poems published in A New Ulster, North West Words, Mad Swirl, The Galway Review, The Bray Journal, and Poethead blog. Her first collection of poetry ‘The Last Fire’ was published during 2015 by Lapwing.  Helen was Guest Poet Reader at ‘O’Bheal Poetry Readings’ Cork, during January 2016, and the ‘White House Readings’ Limerick during April 2016.

THE FAMILY by Michael J Whelan
(Kosovo)

Michael Whelan – Peacekeeper

There were nine of them.
Eight children under the age of ten,
existing- in the rough shell
of a house with a hole in its roof
and a young mother, whose
sanity had run out.
I stood there in the bowel of
her existence,
slack-jawed in the middle
of that frozen room,
rifle under my arm.
It was Christmas time at home.

How do I sort this out?
No one can threaten hunger with bullets.

Tiny hands were in my pockets.
I gave her my watch.

Michael J. Whelan

THIS PLACE

 In the depths of your despair
I come,
enlightened.
With these eyes I see
those who would purge you,
desecrate your identity,
your existence.
With these same eyes
I see your vengeance
meted out, tenfold.
I see the scars,
the landscape,
the missing,
the future.
I will leave this place
and one day bear witness
to your glories.

Michael J. Whelan