Feathers above the Weir
2
University of St. Thomas (Center for Irish Studies) Feathers above the Weir Author(s): Maurice Harmon Source: New Hibernia Review / Iris Éireannach Nua, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer, 2001), p. 51 Published by: University of St. Thomas (Center for Irish Studies) Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20557716 . Accessed: 16/06/2014 23:06 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . University of St. Thomas (Center for Irish Studies) is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to New Hibernia Review / Iris Éireannach Nua. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 62.122.76.54 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 23:06:34 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
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Transcript of Feathers above the Weir
University of St. Thomas (Center for Irish Studies)
Feathers above the WeirAuthor(s): Maurice HarmonSource: New Hibernia Review / Iris Éireannach Nua, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer, 2001), p. 51Published by: University of St. Thomas (Center for Irish Studies)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20557716 .
Accessed: 16/06/2014 23:06
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp
.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
.
University of St. Thomas (Center for Irish Studies) is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extendaccess to New Hibernia Review / Iris Éireannach Nua.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 62.122.76.54 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 23:06:34 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
F??ochtNua: New Poetry
EIGHT HOURS
from Accalam na Sen?rach
Eight bodily faults bite us to the bone,
eight chosen hours help us to atone:
Prime against the gullet's craving,
Tierce against anger's wilful raving,
Midday's light against lustful phases, Nones against greed throughout the ages,
Vespers' calm against sore despair,
Compline's strength against easeful sloth,
Nocturn's cold against boasting's stride,
Matins, God's son's, against stubborn pride,
lesus, Judge, save me through the eight.
r^>
FEATHERS ABOVE THE WEIR
Last month I could see them feeding, sparrows, tomtits, blackbirds, the robin.
Flickering against the leaves, performing leaps
and twirls on the outside in full view.
In the pond families of ducks and ducldings
scurrying about, heads steeped in weed and muck,
waterhens no bigger than my thumb
presenting a nib of beak for tiny drops.
Today feathers float above the weir.
Crouched in the reeds mallards in disguise.
Under the rowan a blackbird going brown.
They are shedding, letting go, keeping faith.
Sexless, songless, brooding, torpid, getting
through it. The spirit sags, the system slows.
I know this state?being and nonbeing?
the hush, the lack of drive, the loss of pith.
The grass slows. Leaves are dog-eared.
No gleam, no shine. I mope above the desk,
sitting it out, this dry patch, soul-sap,
my mind on its own, numbskull, while pages wait.
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This content downloaded from 62.122.76.54 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 23:06:34 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
