Post-partum
.
Night cloaks all living things
and earth itself holds its breath;
wildfires flicker here and there
while other patches
of the wasted land shrivel
under smoke and ash.
When day exhales at last a snapping twig,
rustle in the windless trees, brings suspicion not relief.
.
We are in the debatable lands now,
no longer speak in the easy ways.
Within the borders of silence
we take a breath, take someone’s
measure before we ask:
which way did you vote, then?
.
.
.
Carol Caffrey is an Irish ex-pat (should that be immigrant?) living in the UK since the early 90s, and as well as writing she performs a one-woman play “Music for Dogs”, by former Ireland professor of Poetry, Paula Meehan. (http://musicfordogs.weebly.com)
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