At traffic lightsa bearded icon supplicates,but I drive on – my wallet left at home –I must remember to avoid the tollson my way back, without you. Throat catching on diesel fumesI watch you disappear into the shipbeneath your rucksack carapace. How I envy you this barely broken day –Dublin Bay reflecting nacre,everything you need in just one bag. Amanda Bell’s First the Feathers (Doire Press, 2017) was shortlisted for the Shine Strong award for best first collection of poems. A new collection is forthcoming from Doire in 2021

Source: The Irish Times October 23, 2020 23:00 UTC