Collaboration - poetry and visual art

We talked about it from time to time - about a collaboration between the work of my husband, painter and musician John Philip Murray, and my poems. We knew it would happen but not sure how it would come about.

John Philip has responded to my poem 'Another Day on Patrick Street'.  This has resulted in a number of pieces, two of which are on exhibition during April at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre  and at the Cork School of Music in September- Home (2) - Pen, ink and watercolour on linen and paper.

and Encounter - Ink on linen and paper.

Another Day on Patrick Street

Crouched beside you
covered by tarpaulin
on a mattress of sorts
in a doorway to somewhere.

You doing a crossword,
young beautiful face – eyes tired
from many sleepless nights.

Your man lying back
up on one arm brimming
with possibility for the future.

Construction engineer, you
a bio-scientist – studies arrested

Thank me for stopping
for a chat.

A chat, you say, is preferable to a euro
any day.

Note: this poem has been recorded (to be available later this year) by the UCD Irish Poetry Archive.