John Anthony Brennan's Blog Posts Tagged 'Poetry' (16)

A Strange Encounter in St. Stephen's Green

During a nostalgic trip to Dublin City, Ireland in June 1971, I found myself in the delightful St. Stephen's Green, a welcome oasis in that bustling, cosmopolitan city. The park is sited not far from the Four Courts building, which sits on the north bank of…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on June 9, 2022 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

The Headcutter's Stone

In an old peat bog at Ummericam, sits the cruel headcutter's stone,

stained with the blood and fused with the ghosts, of men who are now long gone.

In the gorse and the furze their cries could be heard, when Johnston was out on the roam

their fates soon sealed with the headhunters wield, and where red still…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on January 13, 2022 at 2:00pm — No Comments

A Brief History of Poetry in Ireland

If as an Irishman/Irishwoman you've ever wondered where you got your love of the spoken word, your love of storytelling, your love of long winded conversation, the following…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on January 7, 2022 at 1:30pm — 11 Comments

In the Realm of Spirit: Psalms from a Mountain

Thrilled to learn that another one of my books is now listed on the worldwide Library web site…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on September 20, 2021 at 12:30pm — No Comments

The Green Valley

I've been down in the green valley, the holy place.

The one where the pagan and saint walk the
blessed earth yet still, in silent mystic. The one…
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Added by John Anthony Brennan on March 20, 2021 at 8:00pm — 9 Comments

Treachery and Betrayal in South Armagh

In July 1690 the last battle fought on Irish soil between two kings who actually…
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Added by John Anthony Brennan on October 21, 2018 at 9:00am — 4 Comments

In Time for Christmas

'Christmas is coming; the goose is getting fat.

Please put a penny in the old mans’ hat.

If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on December 15, 2016 at 11:30pm — 2 Comments

She: A Dedication to the Muse

Within the written she resides 

in quiet assurance of her place. 

Lithe and languid, with regal mien, 

she glides from the page bearing gifts.

The mantle, flowing through the ages,

envelops her in verity profound.

Gently musing all the while, 

in soft tones of…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on August 26, 2016 at 8:30pm — 8 Comments

The Poet's Glen and Creggan Vale

Three of Ireland’s well-loved 18th century Gaelic poets lie at rest in the graveyard of Creggan Church, near to my hometown of Crossmaglen, County Armagh. The poets, Filid Art Mc Cooey, Padraig MacAliondain and the rapparee poet Seamus mor MacMurphy sleep under the oaks and elms in the company…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on August 7, 2016 at 5:00pm — 2 Comments

Mars, Bars and Scars

Have you ever been to Mars?” I was asked one morning at 2am as I made my way up east 81st. street in Manhattan. I was returning home from a night out at Manny’s Car Wash, a favorite blues bar on 2nd avenue. I stopped and heard it again, louder this time, “Have you ever been to Mars?” Looking around I couldn’t see anyone and…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on March 30, 2016 at 10:30pm — 7 Comments

The Maigue Poets

Geneticists at Trinity College, Dublin have recently discovered that the Irish gene pool is the least diluted in all of Europe if not indeed, the world. They have also discovered that the Irish traveling people (tinkers) are purely…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on September 21, 2014 at 5:30pm — 6 Comments

'Back When' - A Lifetime in 1,000 Words

Oh! to return to that time, place and space of yesterday's papers. Back when I was young, undaunted and sure of nothing, stronger than an oak, spellbound in innocence. Back when being seventeen was wide-eyed and ‘rarin to go, driven by the magical, heady arrogance of youth. Back to that time of transitional transmissions when the curtain was torn down, rent…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on September 12, 2014 at 10:00am — No Comments

The Swans

 

He glides across the smooth lakes’ surface,

but she is nowhere in sight.

Stately he moves on ever through the night.

A moonbeam beckons to a hidden place,

where once they did dwell.

Fasted now! Maybe she lays there

and love again might they share.

 

But no earthly sign now, only pain.

Mute and no sound…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on August 14, 2014 at 9:00am — No Comments

The Hill

Atop the mystical hill of Tara stands the stone of Fal, one of four treasures brought to Ireland by the Tuatha de Dannan. It is otherwise known as the ‘stone of destiny.’ There, through the ages, all ard ri (high kings) were crowned. Marriage ceremonies took place there also. These rites were always blessed by the Druid, the holy man of the Celtic peoples. The Brehons, the…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on August 9, 2014 at 11:00am — No Comments

The Night Owls

My writing has always been deeply influenced by the Irish writers whose inspiration prompted me to pick up the quill and follow in their footsteps.  This is my humble tribute to William Butler Yeats ...

I went down to the cool, dark woods,

when night owls were on the wing.

On earthly ghosts and raging floods

embraced my lonely…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on August 7, 2014 at 2:30pm — No Comments

The Singing Bones

"A writer is not interested in explaining reality. He’s only interested in capturing it.” ~ Brendan Kennelly.

 Inside my father's bones lie a million secrets.

 Secrets passed down the long chain from…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on August 6, 2014 at 11:00am — 13 Comments

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