Child Of Silence & Slow Time Poem by Dónall Dempsey

Child Of Silence & Slow Time

Rating: 5.0


An empty white jug
in a blue basin
now
full to the brim
the water trembling
at each passing train
now
dry

only evaporation & a dead fly
inhabit its hollowness
jug
&
basin
(plain & unadorned)
follow us around
from town to town
from room to room

observing
the seasons
& their passings
accepting our humble
nakedness before them
these our relics
from Victorian times
& ever present
in these our modern times
surviving an I am not
amused monarch

(& many blows & drops & knocks)
offering us our
pure ablutions
washing these our
human shores
until all bitter chill
it was
water froze
& it split
along its impressive
crack
(resembling the eastern African coast)

& so becoming
part of our garden
& home to
a sunflower
stretching to catch
the sun as it passes.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Yen Cress 02 October 2007

A lovely metaphor for life-unblemished in infancy and newness; useful, utilitarian, practical for midlife; classic beauty marred by time, yet still valuable for the beauty within. Beautiful poem!

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Gina Pisapia 02 October 2007

Lovely control of the detail that gradually unfolds and unfurls this wonder of words. A fantastic journey through time as seen by a jug and basin and how we happen to them in our human way...a lovely indirect look at us! I love the fact that even as it's heart cracks it still serves a function and is still stretching to catch that passing sun. From Queen Vic to the New Vic and everything in between! Love the little blend of Keats every now and then. A lovely and surprising poem! love Gina XXX

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Dee Dee Wright 02 October 2007

Wow wot a journey through time and all told through the history of a white jug. You really make it all happen and we get to see life as it is lived from the jug's viewpoint and how even at the end it merely changes its job and caries on being useful. The imagery is concise and precise but expands into a universe of its own with some beautiful beautiful touches. I was entranced and charmed by this object brought alive by your usual fablous storytelling. The last line is a thing of beauty! Absolutely lovely and wonderful and fascinating and charming and loving and... love Dee Dee

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Ray Lucero 02 October 2007

Donall, An odyssey of still life...perfectly told. Peace, Ray

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Dónall Dempsey

Dónall Dempsey

Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare, Eire.
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