New Year’s Morning Poem by Seán O Muiríosa

In the morning, I woke up in all the dullness that comes
After a night on the town: The hustling and gargling,
Lots of shouting, bending to ears. The obstacle course
Of sliding by sweat soaked shirts, shiny arms.

Belatedly, I arch out of bed, a bottom of the barrel stomach,
Head like shattered glass, but thoughts return to dancing
When time pushed herself over the edge, to the unknown.
A celebration of the passing, a beautiful misery has ended.

I pull back the curtains to the same road that is forever
Superimposed on my being; the same view ingrained
In my brain – the dark lumpy green hills, not a poke of sun.
And the houses, pubs, the square. A trickle of traffic passes by.

Until a celestial movement shatters all dullness.
All sight is redirected. A cloud had parted and behind it,
A vividness, a strip of blue sky. The digit has flicked.
And somewhere in it, a life is calling. It’s roaring so load.