November 2016
Derek O'Rourke
derek.d@gmx.de
derek.d@gmx.de
I´ve been writing poetry for nigh on 35 years, give or take a gap of 7 years to clothe and feed children. Throughout this time, I´ve managed to read other people's poems like William Carlos Williams, Czeslaw Milosz and my 7 year-old daughter's efforts. In fact, she inspired me 3 or 4 years ago to take up the mighty pen again. Some 25 years ago I had been published in 5 or 6 different publications, 4 of which are now defunct. Hopefully this is not a kiss of death. I've worked as a Postman, Bookseller, Window Cleaner and now Teacher. I´m endeavouring to complete my first collection.
Arran Cycle No.11
There are no hands
on the clock
of a church
half-way up to the summit.
Just the temporary sun
and our bodies.
Then we, the deciders, sat down
for a time
and ate and drank and sang
while the children collected
the small boulders
to part the river
for a few meters, for a time.
There we saw
the bird of prey
pinned to the sky
and the stag still
and a cube of Granite
left by Sisyphus
taking a break
and we are now gazing
smiling
at the glen in 2 dimensions
as though we were the artists
with the power
to realise
an extra degree
of freedom.
©2016 Derek O'Rourke
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