My Squat Pen

My Squat Pen

I want to be like Seamus Heaney,

my squat pen

resting between my finger and my thumb.

I long to dig for words,

to slice those sods of turf

until I see verse form from the dark earth

of my newly turned thoughts;

like those Heaney spilled in his warm, brogue narrative.

All day I would slog in those fields ‘til my sweat turned barren furrows full

and fed the empty parchment in my head.

I long to see the world

with the clarity and simplicity he did;

use his clear sage’s eyes,

like rough farmer’s calloused hands

upon the potter’s wheel;

carving his prose from unglazed, shattered shards

so neatly planted in coloured,

polished mosaics of perfect poetry.

They hang raw as a fresh stripped cow’s carcass

swinging from meat hooks

above the butcher’s block.

Words and phrases that smell of damp mud, and peat,

and the unwashed skin of honest toil,

and the smoke of many battles with the devil,

and the taste of blood

where lips have been broken by the brutal boot of occupation.

 

04/09/13

Author's Note

Reviews

[redflutterby]

Amazing piece John....stunning lines!! ;-)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much AMS

[Lydia Shutter]

"They hang raw as a fresh stripped cow’s carcass swinging from meat hooks above the butcher’s block." Spectacular imagery! Such a wonderfully honest tribute to a great Irish poet. Yes, his poetry is "earthy" and you have captured that in your tribute. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

He was a special talent indeed. Many thanks Lydi.

[Jack...]

John, this is so very cool. As if written on an old brick wall, this grabbed me as I walked past and held me close for the duration.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Why thank you kind Sir Jack!

[Pryde Foltz]

Well, this poem is pretty awesome.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow! Thanks Pryde

[Emerald Seas]

An excellent poem, John. Don't all of us here wish we had such talent! A few do, but I know I am not one of them. You've written an intriguing piece!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much QSS

[A. H. Pinley]

Always such great word selection...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you AHP

[Leslie Philibert]

John, and I repeat myself, is writing very well. I would like to be SH too, but simply don`t have the talent.
A fine poem.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thank yous for your kind wods Leslie

[Mark]

I'll drink to that! After weeding the garden of course.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Nice to see you have your priorities in order! Thanks Mark.

[Frieda P]

A wonderful tribute to a great poet here, love this piece, great finish John.

and the smoke of many battles with the devil,
and the taste of blood
where lips have been broken by the brutal boot of occupation.

Awe inspiring, well done!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Frieda; you are very kind.