IMRAM 2006

IMRAM Féile Litríochta Gaeilge (IMRAM - Festival of Irish/Gaelic Literature) took place from 10th to 15th of October. Wow!!! some great events. Diego Valverde reading Lorca's original works in Spainish that had been translated to Gaelic and English by Michael Hartnett, Tomás Mac Siomóin read Hartnett's Gaelic and English versions of Lorca's work on the Wednesay night.

Sean nós singing on the Saturday with Padragín Ní Ullacháin (what a voice) and Christine Primrose from from the Isle of Lewis. Followed by Lois De Paor and John Spillane singing and reciting. Electric stuff in the boom boom room in Conway's Bar.

On Sunday an open session of poetry with fantastically moving spiritual renditions of many slow airs bySteve Cooney and Tony Mac Mahon interspersed with sean nós from a wonderful young singer Lórcán Mac Mathúna. Open mic session afterwards wher some brilliant stuff was read out both as Gaeilge ( in Irish) and as béarla (in English). Recited a few from this blog myself.


Big thanks to Liam Carson and the gang for organising such a brilliant week, can't wait for next year.

Samhan - Dave Kearns

Trudging through
the moist decaying
leaves of autumn
crushing hazel and
chestnuts beneath
my awkward
stumbling steps
echoing the
wind crazed
tree tops

faltering thoughts
swept aside
by uncertainty's
dampening despair
change: drapes
decay in brown
and golden
declining light
fruits of labour
descend in completeness
surrendering to the
greater hand
fallowed fright
rages

my outstretched boughs
flailing helplessly
in turmoil tormentedness
running restlessness
trips itself
on rocks
that herald
my awaiting cairn
laughing out
lecherously
in eternal knowingness

the light changes
to coldened silver
Samahan's hand
traces cold threats
of realness
across my
worried brow
consolation deserts
frightened fear
self-traitored
in trerrorised tremoring

tears heat
reinforce coldness' grip
moistened leaves
stare in yellow
mirroring of
mortal panic
Samhan's darkness
descends

seeking out
my bones
to cast upon
her bonfire
I call out to
the air
tears fall like
leaves
'til fear
sings out
in Silence
in this......

birdless place.

• Dave Kearns

Ag Amharc

Ag amharc amach
tríd fuinneoga bhrionglóideach
gan aon rud a fhaca
ach mo taibreamh féin

Ag amharc amach
mo smaointe saoire ag eitilt
gan an gnáth tuisleach
táim taobh amuigh den cúngaracht

Ag stánadh
gan féachaint
ar aon rud
sásta sa bhomaite

Ag eitilt
suas go dtí
na realtaí
gan cosc
gan toisc
gan oír
gan anacair

Ag amharch amach
tríd fuinneoga bhrionglóideach
i neamh taibhreamhacha
ar m'each draíochta

Ag amharc amach
ag fanacht le faic
ag síothlú m'anam
idir an réaltach
's na realtaí
úd sa meisce bhrionglóideach
ná musc liom

Dave Kearns

Shed - Gerry Counihan

Shed

My brother placed a hand
On my lower back
To help me
Ascend into
The hired container
Which cost me
A thought on affection
And cost of space.
Narrowed distance.
Seventy pounds for skip
Seventy pounds for a touch.
The context was good
I was ripe for tact
We felt.

Gerry Counihan

Stad

Bhí mé ag leamh
an dán Scond
amuigh faoin aer
bhí m'aigne chorca
le samointe dubhacha
léigh mé an dán
is d'fhéach mé arís
bhí an drúcht ag soilse
ar méara féara
's na neantóg ag caithadh
dár aghaidh grátha
chuig na gaethe gréine
's bhí na seachóirí deirge
den fomhar ann
na fhírinne simplí
i mo measc.

An fhírinne
ag criostalacht
an soilse
's na duilleoga daireacha
ag caoineadh leis an gaoth
i dár thitim aníós
le h-áthas an rún simplí seo
mantra nua
mantra simplí
Stad mé is d'fhéach mé arís
Stad mé is d'fhéach mé arís.

• Dave Kearns

Crystal River

Crystal River

I sit upon your bank
enriched fulfilled
overflowing with
contented wisdom
satiated in
spiritual contentment

My soul cries
come with me river
come with me to
my world
She flashes her
twinkling crystal eyes
coyly

Whispers to me
in wren coded voice
‘tis not I who has
to go with you:
you must come to me
the eternally patient
bride:

Siddhartha my
first love
learned this through
all his journeying
all his seeking
the simple truth
that to you
I speak

Sit, here by my side
it’s no prince I seek
no mighty warrior
to save the meek
a stick gatherer
I desire
to tend my
Edenic garden

Who sits among
my beautiful jewels
who plays the mystery
of kingfishered brilliance
upon his flute
stay here
among my reeded hair

The world has nothing for us
in their frenzied hurry
beyond the truth
I, in crystallised reciprocation
return to your
lost, longing stare

Let my gentle hands
lap, caress upon
your bared feet
here together, forever
at this my
earthened throne.

• Dave Kearns

Welcome

Welcome to Irish Poetic Scratchings. The name is meant to convey the Irish sense of irreverance so as to make the blog welcoming to all without feeling intimidated. This though is not to undermine the seriousness with which poetry is to be taken. Enjoy the content.