Mirrored
She visited again last night, no pike this time.
She was singing too. Her song is the sound of a heavy body
Dragging itself, deadly, up the stairs. Her malady
not too dissimilar to that thud-thump heartbeat
In my ears. She brought mirrors into my mind
and in my mind she filled the mirrors with crows,
huge-beaked, hungry crows. That fed. And though
I couldn’t move, I kept my eyes open,
I wasn’t frightened; I knew sooner or later I’d wake,
And she would have to leave with her mirrors and her crows,
Leaving my pulse behind.
(first published in the Celtic Mists edition of Agenda, Summer 2012)
Insight
i.m. Michael Hartnett
And just because the stand of oaks was blind
she gave them eyes; iridescent glow stones
from fathomless seas. And once inclined
to hold the sky with seasoned hands grown
out of touch, they cupped the light, dappled
it for shadows and for shade. Now in sight
of things they know the shape of, they grapple
with her lonesome walks on moonless nights.
They whisper to each other, even the sky is alone tonight.
She presses her eyes to their eyes and inside their world
she finds you there, naked surgeon, a light
by your well, your body unfurled
as the stars flow through you, to trace
your hopeful song, so music is heard in space.
(first published in the Irish Times newspaper, February 16 2013)
Eleanor Hooker‘s debut collection of poetry The Shadow Owner’s Companion was published by Dedalus Press, February 1 2012. Eleanor Hooker was selected for the Poetry Ireland Introductions Series in 2011. Her poetry has been published in journals in Ireland, the UK and in Germany. She is a founding member, Vice-Chairperson and PRO for the Dromineer Literary Festival. She is a helm and Press Officer for the Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat. She began her career as a nurse and midwife.
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