A reader writes
Thursday the 12th of January 2006
In a Dublin Fish & Chip Shop
(extemporé)
by Kevin Kiely
outside
is my silver spire
my giant ballpoint pen
my rocket on its launch pad
my needle needing an archway
for a camel to walk through it
I am looking out at people
(intent on their purpose) and
the clean roofs of passing vehicles
on a wet day
the Luas is returning the streetscape
to eternal trams
this is not the place of my birth
but it is my favourite city
in the whole wide world
I was born here this morning
J. Maciejko, (according to the receipt)
served 1 haddock and chips at 12.47pm
upstairs my fellow fish-people tuck in
the water looks like wine
the paper place mat mentions Ivan Beshoff
who lived to be one hundred and four
fish, the food that Jesus used for miracles,
is great for us
Do I give the tray, plate, knife and fork back?
ŒNo problem¹, according to J. Maciejko
I can leave them on the table.
I leave them beside the chess-piece
salt and vinegar cruets
because I'm going out
to continue my adventures
In a Dublin Fish & Chip Shop
(extemporé)
by Kevin Kiely
outside
is my silver spire
my giant ballpoint pen
my rocket on its launch pad
my needle needing an archway
for a camel to walk through it
I am looking out at people
(intent on their purpose) and
the clean roofs of passing vehicles
on a wet day
the Luas is returning the streetscape
to eternal trams
this is not the place of my birth
but it is my favourite city
in the whole wide world
I was born here this morning
J. Maciejko, (according to the receipt)
served 1 haddock and chips at 12.47pm
upstairs my fellow fish-people tuck in
the water looks like wine
the paper place mat mentions Ivan Beshoff
who lived to be one hundred and four
fish, the food that Jesus used for miracles,
is great for us
Do I give the tray, plate, knife and fork back?
ŒNo problem¹, according to J. Maciejko
I can leave them on the table.
I leave them beside the chess-piece
salt and vinegar cruets
because I'm going out
to continue my adventures