Eamonn Lynskey

Biography

Eamonn Lynskey was born in Dublin in 1948. His poetry has been published widely since its first appearance in the 1980s in the Irish Press ‘New Irish Writing’ pages edited by David Marcus. His first collection, 'Despatches & Recollections' was published by Lapwing (Belfast) in 1998, and his second, ‘And Suddenly the Sun Again’, by Seven Towers Ltd., (Dublin) in 2010. He has performed his poetry widely and is an enthusiastic supporter of the open mic in Dublin, London and elsewhere. Further info. at http://tvivf.wordpress.com

Samples

ELEGY FOR THE PHILADELPHIA WIREMAN (d. 1982?) His work was found by chance one trash night in a Philadelphia sidestreet by a someone wasn't looking for it— Dead, or moved away, the wireman left no forwarding address, just these twelve hundred pieces made from discards, twisted, bent, persuaded to yield something of the soul they never had until his hands pressed down on them and woke it: skeletal umbrellas, batteries, pens and nuts and bolts and wardrobe hangers, coils of red and black electric cable writhing skyward— Gesturing despair? Or supplicating mercy? This the art, the making of the thing, the thing allowed to speak its heart, without the artist intervening (and no photographs, no anecdotes, no long explanatory notes). This the art, the what-remains-behind to be the sole begetter of itself, its poor creator gone to meet his own, bequeathing this the most the valuable the artefact could ever hope for: absence of its maker and the freedom to be beautiful despite his uglinesses, wise despite his crass stupidities, exemplar of the kindnesses he knew a lifetime hopelessly locked up inside him and could show out only in these tapestries and loops of interwoven wire, these nails, these coins, these watches, tools and jewellery bound by rubber bands and tape. And even then could show out only if we found them in that skip before the trashmen took it. Even then and only if we weren't looking for them. Only if we found them just by chance. (from the collection 'And Suddenly the Sun Again' publ. by Seven Towers, Dublin, 2010; and first published in the 'First Census Antology' 2008)

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.