Tuesday 1 November 2011

PPP Publishing - IN and OUT by Inga Brigitta



Exciting news! Calling all poetry lovers, Inga Brigitta's collection In and Out is almost ready for release! Details of how to order will be posted on http://www.ppppublishing.com - it will retail at £8.95 plus postage from cafepress, or will be available in Ireland from PPP Publishing, and direct from the poet herself in the UK.
This is the ideal xmas gift for poetry lovers, or just for yourself.

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Friday 21 October 2011

In Dublin, on an Autumn Day

Written this morning in the Stephen's Green as my one year old slept happily in his Bugaboo, all wrapped up against the Autumn bite. There is nowhere quite as pleasant as the Green on a quiet Autumnal morning.



In Dublin, it is a treat
to find a seat in the Stephen's
Green
Near the fountains
on Constance's Side
Where if you sit quiet and still
On an Autumn Morning
Chill in the air, and Leaves falling
A robin might appear
at your feet
Under the seat, where careless
Tourists
Spill crumbs from O'Briens
And you watch the punks and goths
flock
Followed by the suits and shoppers
And a park keeper passes
And nods, hello, the ducks in the pond
Rising.

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Tuesday 11 October 2011

My piece "legacy; these acts make you immortal" on the Balanced Witch Blog

http://thebalancedwitch.com/family/legacy-these-acts-make-you-immortal/

Delighted to contribute a piece to The Balanced Witch blog - this is my piece on motherhood and the spiritual journey. Read and comment, and support a lovely blog/site.

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The Balanced Witch Blog; my piece "legacy"

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Wednesday 28 September 2011

Saturday 17 September 2011

For Ronan Mac Aongusa, Transparent years (a poem of UCD)

For Ronan, for 25 years.



Transparent Years

25 years ago
On the concourse of UCD
Or hanging in the students union
We were arrogant and lost
In impossible measures

Transparent in our voices
Ideals worn with cynical pride
Titling at dragons and chasing dreams
Angst and alcohol, side by side

25 years ago,
you became a sentinel in my life
prompting me when I stumbled
one of the foundations
of who I am.

We have both made our journeys
In miles, in thought, in dream or deed
Each one ending in our reunion
Friendship it seems, is our only need.

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Wednesday 31 August 2011

In Search of a Lost Girl

Inspired by Immrama, and the bringing of meditation and journeying techniques into modern life

In search of a lost girl

The summer of my youth was spent
In smoky pubs; making rain
While the sun shone.

On and on, I traversed the lines
And wasted time like golden coin.

How to glimpse again the vanished day?
Travel through the shades and speak
To my younger, lost self? And take
her by the hand and reinvent
the landscape of my past.

I have lit incense to the god of time
And sweated out the years
I have shed tears and offered wine
And burnt meat. They will not treat
With me, and silently disdain
.

I will return to the ways of my mothers,
And sail into the western seas,
MannanĂ¡n will guide me to Hy-Brasil
And I will alight at the sacred Isles
Where all answers lie, hidden.

Among the old, I will walk with ease.
It will please me to hear the old words
And sing the old songs, among the trees.
I will make a harp of my sorrows and dance
And woo time with my lips.










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Friday 5 August 2011

Wilderness

This is an old one; I found it recently online and thought, well if it's on other sites it should get a place on my own blog...I have mixed feelings about it, it is a poem written about the claims of old friends who are no longer friends. It was written for someone I knew in my teens and twenties, a very different place in my life.


Wilderness

We were lost for a while, despite maps
You looked into the distance and called
and your voice returned multifold.
I had told you that there was an echo but
you wouldn't believe an old friend;
I am hurt that you had no faith
and in the end we are what we believe.

The trek to the summit was hard
and I longed to be back in the valleys;
I wouldn't say so to you,
and you knew I was being forbearing
how deeply you hate me, my old friend.

I am submerged in the cool lake, swimming
and the sound of your voice is muffled;
I am free of the claims of the past, even
as you climb into my present.

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Saturday 30 July 2011

Robert Lee Brewer "Escape" (Second Volume of Poetry) Preoder!

Just ordered a new book of poetry from Robert Lee Brewer, the second of his collections. "Escape" should be good, if it's half as good as "Enter" I'll be happy. Anyone looking for a good book of modern poetry, check out his blog (click on the title above) or twitter @robertleebrewer. It's only $10 plus postage. Enter was an excellent, well selected, cohesive collection and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

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Tuesday 28 June 2011

Fame at Last...Charlie on Italian TV this summer

Well Charlie himself will be interviewed on Italian TV soon; he's no stranger to print and radio interviews although this may be his first TV one. Some favourite interviews over the years have included one he did for the students in Rathmines College of Commerce, a radio documentary for Lyric FM on buying a first violin and a wonderful print interview (later part of a book) by Rose DOyle for the Irish Times.

We are looking forward now to seeing what the Italian interview is like and what they are looking for! Details will be shared as we find them out.

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Thursday 23 June 2011

Doctors in Bahrain: Update

There is an excellent segment on the Joe Duffy LIVELINE show on RTE radio one (today Thursday 23rd June 2011)about the Doctors and medics being held, tortured and falsely accused in Bahrain.
You can listen to the podcast if you miss the show: just visit rte.ie and look for Liveline and then for Thursday 23rd June show. If I have time I will post a direct link later.http://www.rte.ie/radio1/liveline/

The plight of these poor medics has to be brought to the attention of the world. many were trained in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and all are innocent of terrible charges. It is a tragedy and the RCSI refuses to help them, for financial reasons. Overseas Students are a lucrative business for them.
Please listen, and if you can join in the campaign to help them. Doctors especially are needed to sign petitions and force the RSCI to act.
Let's make a difference. Retweet this, facebook it, write to the newspapers, write to the Bahrainian Embassy London

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Wednesday 22 June 2011

Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley: Oppress Stonehenge's Neo-Pagan Hippies: Guardian

Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley: Oppress Stonehenge's Neo-Pagan Hippies: Guardian

This is an excellent blog post from
"Archdruid" Eileen - while I personally hold no brief for the modern "Druid" and some of the antics surrounding sacred sites by the tree hugging hippy neo-Druidic movement I think this sums up why we all have to make room for other people's beliefs and practices.
Well written and well argued.

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Thursday 2 June 2011

Pagan Writers Community

Anyone who writes with an eye to alternative spirituality should check out Pagan Writer's Community on Facebook and also the new website on http://grou.ps/paganwriterscommunity/

An excellent resource for esoteric writings, pagan poetry and fiction and to connect and interact with other writers.

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Tuesday 31 May 2011

Listowel Writers Week June 1st-5th 2011

Listowel Writers Week start June 1st and runs to June 5th inclusive; it boasts a great programme of events and lots of variety - theatre, poetry, novels - with readings from great authors including Neil Jordan. Ronan Wilson and more!

check out http://writersweek.ie/ and consider a different Bank Holiday Weekend !

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Saturday 28 May 2011

Aisling (competition poem)

To read the poem from the John Murray poetry competition, check out HERE

To listen to it being read by Pat Boran, and hear the other excellent entries and the winners check out HERE (the poetry competition is 6th down the page)

Many thanks to everyone who emailed or twittered how much they enjoyed the poem and thanks for all the extremely kind comments. I think you'll really enjoy the standard of poems read out on air; from junior level upwards the winners are so impressive. Please listen and let the show know how much you enjoyed the poetry competition. Poetry needs your support. Don't forget to twitter using the hash key #writingcommunity

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Thursday 26 May 2011

I got a highly commended on the John Murray Poetry comp

Well, I am very pleased with myself this morning. I tuned in to listen to the results of the poetry competition, hoping that someone I knew might have done well. They read out about four or five poems, including the category winners and a sample of commended poems. Imagine my utter delight when the judge read out my poem Aisling and commented on it. The standard of entries was so high, it was a compliment to be included.
What completely impressed me was the standard of the junior and senior school entries - there's a lot right with our country when our youth has such a passionate and literate voice.

If you visit http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thejohnmurrayshow/ by tomorrow there should be a podcast to listen to of today's show. My poem "Aisling" is read just before the overall Adult winner is announced.

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Wednesday 25 May 2011

In Bahrain Today

This is a poem for the medics arrested in Bahrain as part of the brutal clampdown on pro democracy demonstrators; some were arrested for their politcal prodemocracy views and others for helping injured demonstrators in the street. They are falsely accused of inflicting worse injuries on patients than originally suffered. The charges are cruel, injust and downright lies. Some of the Doctors will be executed if the Bahrain government has its way; for "extending" wounds suffered in the attack on demonstrators. In fact they were only trying to tend the injured people. One doctor's wife was abducted and tortured in an attempt to force her to lie about her husband. One lawyer for them was arrested the day before the trial.

In Bahrain today
Hippocrates weeps
Black clothed men stalk
hospital wards
dealing death.

Step outside into the street
In Bahrain today
and ask for help
No doctor will reply
fearing death

If you came to me
In Bahrain today
and begged me to save you
your son your daughter
my no means death

Injustice reigns
In Bahrain today
healing hands
caring eyes
face death


Please get involved Amnesty International

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Thursday 12 May 2011

Last day to enter RTE poetry competition!

Tomorrow is the closing date for entries to the John Murray Poetry Competition on RTE radion one in association with Listowel Writers' Week.
The theme is Ireland 2011 and the poem must be 20 lines or less. There are three categories, two for school goers and one for adults. Read the submission guidelines at the link above.

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Saturday 7 May 2011

Ladies' Day

Just heard of the death of a friend; she hadn't been around in the last few years but I have very fond memories of her charm and elegance. This is for her.

Ladies' day

August in Dublin
For her was hats
Shoes and other
Sartorial excesses
But mainly hats

Ladies day at the RDS
Sore shoes on inexperienced feet
I complained but she laughed
Suffer for fashion, ladies

The rituals of ladyship
She took seriously
Played by the rules.
Once she made
a lime green hat

She was Hitchcock cool
With a passionate eye
I remember most
How she enjoyed it all

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Wednesday 4 May 2011

John Murray Show poetry comp RTE

Just a reminder that there are still a few days left in which to enter the inaugural John Murray Show Poetry Competition.

Full details here at http://writersweek.ie/uncategorized/rte-john-murray-show-poetry-competition

The theme is Ireland 2011 and it is held in conjunction with Listowel Writers Week.

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Saturday 9 April 2011

Untitled Landscape

How do you see me? he asked
I paused. At nineteen how do you answer that?
How do you say, I cannot describe you?

He was, we were,
wild beauty rocks and mountains and waterfalls
or we were urban decay wasteland and wire fence

I remember those days through a haze of nostalgia
the least of them pulsates like a beating heart
lifeblood of experience

I was unknown. You were unspoken
He was unformed. She was unbroken.
We were untitled landscapes.

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Sunday 27 February 2011

The edge of rain

I stood with you on the edge of rain
Deep In a forest in a foreign land
We danced between two states of mind
Sun to storm, hand in hand
Leaves made dappled patterns on the path
Rivers formed beneath our glancing feet
We circled stately like twin stars
Cheek to cheek, the twain did meet

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Sunday 6 February 2011

She Dances Like a Wave

She dances like a wave
Undulations leaving ridges
In the sands of time
She dances like long grass
Sighing before the wind
Bending low to kiss the earth
She dances to the song
Of larks on the wing
Wheeling free against the sun
She dances
And the world stands still

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Saturday 5 February 2011

Storm

Invisible hands
Move branches
Lift fallen leaves
Throw handfuls
against my window
Counterpoint
To rain hitting glass
Hitting slate
Dancing on metal
Wind howls
Wild joyful screams
Low moans of pain
Finding hidden passages
Creeping through gaps
To place cold fingers
On your cheek
You stir
You sigh
You shiver
Safe indoors

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Friday 4 February 2011

Baby's Song

For obvious reasons I have had no time to write in the last 4 months; but there's one piece of rhyme I have composed ! This is what I sing to my 4 month old baby boy. I doubt it'll stand as my greatest poetic work but he seems to like it.

I have the best baby in the whole wide world
his name is darabean
he's the best baby
that you've ever seen
I love my baby
and my baby, he loves me
We both love Daddy
that's a family of three!

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