Bernadette Gallagher - Reminders of things to do

Bernadette Gallagher is a poet from Ireland. Her work has been published in Irish Examiner, Boyne Berries, ROPES, Stanzas, in the US peace journal DoveTales, In the Cinnamon Corners, Ó Bhéal Five Words and in various online journals. A selection of her work has been recorded by the University College Dublin Poetry Archive. She has been invited to read her work in Ireland, UK, US, and at the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi, India. Further details at bernadettegallagher.blogspot.ie

Reminders of Things To Do

grass gone to seed birds and bees feed weeds grow in gutters watering the plants below paper on the floor boxes stacked high clothes laid out — waiting for an iron seeds out of date, unopened, chimney in need of a brush paint cracked on the door books — some shelved, some not

walk down the lane, listen for buzzard call watch as they soar and dive remember this.

Mullaghanish 2020

We climbed and saw her across the valley Goddess Anu lying back breasts bared to the sky.

Like sheep, we zig-zagged our way up, sun high the sound of birds and water flowing downstream. Standing on the highest spot we point to familiar landmarks — look for where our home might be unseen but knowing it is out there a few giant steps away.

Out Walking

Like Morse Code one barks another responds, quickly followed by a third, fourth and fifth message until the whole neighbourhood of house protectors have decoded my presence.

On my way home the sounds retreat. The dogs lie again in wait, alone.

Don’t Write about Death

Maybe you could write a poem about words, those words you copy in your word book. I chose jejune — unsatisfying to the mind veridic —shown to be true ratiocination — a reasoned train of thought hegemony — the strongest and most powerful, able to control others. Why are these words so recondite, so obscure? There is no insouciance here no carefree thoughts, but concern for the ontological the why of being. I am but an epigone, a less distinguished follower leading to my demise.

Bodi Tree or Tree of Life, Karnataka, India. Photograph by Mark Ulyseas.