Poems - Threads Entwined and The Colour Grey have found their first home

The poem Threads Entwined was written at a pivotal point in my life.

Once a poem is written it lives its own life and so I am gratified that Threads Entwined and The Colour Grey have found their first home together in Backstory.

Thanks to Anne Casey, Wendy Dunn and the team at Backstory for selecting and giving a home to these poems.

'Poet’s Voyage' by John Philip Murray first exhibited at the Invited artists Exhibition

Kanturk Arts Festival 2019 (Ireland) 

John Philip Murray:  'Poet's Voyage shows the archetypal poet, walking bravely into this inhospitable world…..to try to ascertain truth. Set in a landscape of dark volcanic gravel, almost featureless, the path made by walkers manifests itself as a narrow track of lighter grey.
This picture employs imagery from two of my recent series:
‘Sacred Paths’ concerning humankind's need for movement, apparent since ancient times; and 'To Poetry' concerning the quest for trancendence through endeavour.

This painting is a point in a dialogue with the poem Threads Entwined by Bernadette Gallagher'. 

Ganga to La Croix

Following my journey to India in 2018 and to the US in 2019, I wrote the poem 'Ganga to La Croix' in response to a request from Leslie Thomas to contribute a poem for 'Write to the River' published Nov 2019.

Before sunrise, Ganga

Before sunrise, La Croix

(c)Bernadette Gallagher

Three Poems

The following is a sample of three poems available from the Irish Poetry Reading Archive.   Links to other poems by Bernadette are available on the page 'Published Poems'.

Bernadette reads Father to Daughter for the Irish Poetry Reading Archive, University College Dublin.  This poem is based on her experience of leaving Ireland to live and work in Baghdad in the early 1980s.  This recording of an earlier version of Father to Daughter was first published by editor, Christine Murray, on Poethead in 2017.  The revised version appears below.

Father to Daughter

For Rafiq Kathwari

Do you realise there is a war
going on?  I didn’t.

Used to being stopped
at security checkpoints

Strabane – Aughnacloy.

Sounds of war do not
stifle a 22-year old.

Lights out, blinds down
pretend we are invisible
as our plane prepares to land.

At work Ahmed pours sweet tea -
small glass too hot to hold.

An Arab friend gently plucks
stray hairs from my face
working thread with fingers.

High fashion – hand made
from Burda patterns – covered
for Mosque with Abaya.

Five women dressed in black
on our way to Gaylani Mosque.

A letter goes astray to Tehran
but finds me safe on Haifa Street

Baghdad.

(c) Bernadette Gallagher

Bernadette introduces and reads an earlier version of Christ is Risen for the Irish Poetry Reading Archive at University College Dublin.

Christ is Risen

With hope we came to the cave;
to find an impostor preaching
words of fear and hate.

“What would you do if Muslims
took over this country?”

As Christ rose from the dead

We walked out of the church.

(c) Bernadette Gallagher

Bernadette introduces and reads an earlier version of Rosa for the Irish Poetry Reading Archive at University College Dublin.  Rosa was first published in Boyne Berries in 2016 Editor: Orla Fay and 

2nd publication by Poethead in 2017 Editor: Christine Murray.

Rosa

Do not prune the roses
said Vita Sackville-West
strung together let them grow
to four feet at best.

Dig the hole deep
and fill with rotted waste
filtered by worms
to our taste.

The rose blossomed
in Istanbul, bringing squares
of pale pink tossed in ice
to tempt my love

until death cuts off a branch
dropping
a single white flower
below.

(c) Bernadette Gallagher

'High Speed' pinned to Places of Poetry Map

My poem 'High Speed' inspired by a programme on BBC Radio 4 and an article in The Guardian in 2015 about HS2 is pinned on the Places of Poetry Map.

Image above taken from http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Interviews/hs2-train-race-making-the-case

To New York by rail

We said our goodbyes to Boston and Cape Cod and stepped onto an Amtrak train for New York.
The views along the way made the journey most enjoyable - lots of open spaces with sea/river views.

When we arrived at Penn station, New York, we went straight to using the subway.

This was the final leg of our journey - 4 nights in New York.  Three of those nights included jazz gigs.  On Monday we went to the Village Vanguard to hear the Big Band. This is an intimate venue.  We were sitting right beside the pianist, Jim McNeely. Each member of the band was superb and it was obvious they were having fun.

John Philip Murray with Jim McNeely at the Village Vanguard

Afterwards we raced across to East village to the Nuyorican Poets Café.  The open mic was in full throttle with some powerful voices.  We paid the entrance fee and I put my name down to read.  The atmosphere was alive with the audience clicking their fingers in support of the performer.

Nuyorican Poets Café

The formidable emcee was the actor Caridad de La Luz.  She directed the event seamlessly and orchestrated a particularly warm welcome (popping their cherry) for those who were reading in public for the first time.

Bernadette Gallagher with Caridad de La Luz at the Nuyorican Poets Café

I entered with trepidation, read two poems and when I left it was with warmth and hugs.

Bernadette Gallagher after reading at the Nuyorican Poets Café

Mookie Mania, Bernadette Gallagher & John Philip Murray 

outside the Nuyorican Poets Café

With a very kind friend, Fintan, we walked the Highline, marvelled at the staircase to nowhere and the construction workers dangling from steel beams on skyscrapers in the midst of creation.  We visited Zabars, the grocery store that seems to have everything.

The Bloomberg building (on wheels) and the staircase to nowhere in the background.

On Tues night we went to the Zinc bar to hear Vic Juris, guitar, Jay Anderson on double bass and Adam Nussbaum, drums.  Vic played a piece in tribute to Larry Coryell who we heard in the Crane Lane in 2016, shortly before he died.  Larry was a lovely warm person as well as a brilliant musician. Vic played a piece he wrote for his wife and a Puerto Rican piece that I particularly enjoyed.

Vic Juris, guitar, Jay Anderson on double bass and Adam Nussbaum, drums 

at Zinc

On Wed we went to Mezzrow's to hear the pianist David Torkanowsky who we heard in New Orleans.  David was accompanied by Evan Christopher on clarinet.  They brought the sounds of New Orleans to NY.  It seems we were destined to be here on our last night and stayed for the second set.

David Torkanowsky and Evan Christopher 

at Mezzrow's

Encouraged by Evan we went up the street to Smalls, a sister venue to Mezzrow's and heard Mike Karn's jazz band - Mike Karn, double bass, Harry Allen, sax, Larry Fuller, piano and Aaron Kimmel, drums.  They were joined by John Pizzarelli on guitar.  This was a mesmeric experience.

Aaron Kimmel

Larry Fuller, piano; John Pizzarelli, guitar and Mike Karn, double bass

John Pizzarelli, guitar; Mike Karn, double bass and Harry Allen, sax

During our stay we walked, stood, sat and held our breaths at the deep water holes where the Twin Towers once stood and ascended to a height of 102 floors to see the city from a different perspective.

One World Trade Centre 

Butterfly above the place where the Twin Towers stood

This journey to the US has changed and enriched our understanding of this vast place.

From New Orleans to Boston and The James

Family and friends are the reason we included Boston in our trip. I was particularly interested in visiting The James pub & restaurant in Needham,  a short train journey from Boston.

So proud of The James logo which has a photo of my dad, Stuart's grandfather John Gallagher (John John Jimmy)

The James - train stop at Needham

Spirit Airlines brought us from New Orleans to Boston - about a three hour flight.

We stayed with my nephew Stuart Henry and his wife Jen.  Stuart, from Galway, co-owns The James with Cormac Dowling from Bray, Co Wicklow.

The James is a popular spot with locals and visitors.  The train from Boston stops right outside.

Our train conductor, John Slymon - his mother is from Derreen, outside Athenry

We ate there on two separate nights and the atmosphere was electric.  Our first visit was on a Monday which is a 'fish & chips' night - just what we needed to recover after our trip up from New Orleans.  Jazz night was on Wed - music by The C.R.A.F.T. club - Kim Maria Araiza Piano and amazing vocals, Richard Hale Shaw, Bass and Howard Rubenstein, Sax.  John Philip just happened to have his sticks and sat in for a few numbers raising the temperature all round!

 The C.R.A.F.T. club - Kim Maria Araiza Piano/vocals, Richard Hale Shaw, Bass and Howard Rubenstein, Sax

The C.R.A.F.T. club - with John Philip Murray playing drums.

Catching up with other Boston based friends, Annette and Tony Payne

We enjoyed our time at The James - the food, staff, craic and music but to get a non biased view read the article by Devra First
in The Boston Globe

'But what makes it a real Irish pub is the way everyone comes and is welcomed: friends, sweethearts, grandparents, babies, the commuters who walk off the train and directly into the stone building beside the tracks, all mingling together. It’s the spirit of the place.' Devra First

We enjoyed spending time with Stuart, Jen, Dubh, Annette, Tony and Miley.   We had a run on one of the many off road trails around Boston and Cape Cod.  An intimate poetry reading is a memory I will treasure.

Dubh

Miley

One of the many trails around Boston

Great to meet up with Stuart and Jen

Sunset at Cape Cod

Down the Mississippi to New Orleans

It would be a great trip to travel by or near the Mississippi from the source to the Gulf of Mexico.  We had to settle for flying over this wonderful river from Minnesota to New Orleans.  Spirit landed us safely at the Louis Armstrong International Airport.  The four hour journey was quickened by reading 'Windy Day at Kabekona' by Thomas R. Smith.  I particularly enjoyed reading 'On the Road to New Orleans'.  I reproduce this poem by Thomas with his permission.

'On the Road to New Orleans' by Thomas R. Smith from 'Windy Day at Kabekona' New & Selected Prose Poems published by White Wine Press, Buffalo, New York.

We felt totally at home in New Orleans.  The people are especially friendly and warm.  We loved their way of talking - 'hey baby', 'c'mon'.

Second line parade - New Orleans wedding

It is easy to get around New Orleans by walking, streetcar, bus, taxi/uber.

It is a great privilege to travel with a musician as we got to hear great music most nights:
At Snug Harbor on Tuesday we saw the Stanton Moore Trio - David Torkanowsky on piano and Peter Harris on double bass.  They were joined, for a few numbers, by  superb vocalist Ed Perkins.  We returned to Snug Harbor the following night for the Uptown Jazz Orchestra.  The food at Snug is also good.  Thursday saw us travel uptown to the Maple Leaf Bar to hear Johnny Vidacovich, Joe Ashlar and Steve Masakowski.  The Maple Leaf reminds us of the Crane Lane in Cork.

John Philip Murray with New Orleans drummer Willie Green

Johnny Vidacovich and his band at Maple Leaf

Another evening saw us take a street car, bus and a walk in a quiet street at night arriving to join a queue of about 20 others waiting to get into Bacchanal. We sat in the courtyard with our wine and shrimps listening to the Willie Green Jazz Band.  John Philip was asked to play a number which happened to be the last tune of the evening.  The musicians were open, warm and supportive.

My motto when travelling is to 'be there'.  So we didn't get to see all the sights but did visit a number of places including the Voodoo Museum.  We also took a trip on the steamboat Sanchez and took the ferry to Algiers - two worthwhile and enjoyable excursions.

From the Voodoo Museum

New Orleans has an abundance of excellent restaurants.  We loved the Ruby Slipper and De Zat.

I am not a follower of ball games but it is impossible to be in New Orleans and not become a Saints fan!

On our final night we were lucky to hear the incredible vocalist Germaine Bazzle and jazz trio at the Sonesta Hotel.  The bass player, Peter Harris, who we met at Snug Harbor told us about this gig and I am so glad we got to it.

Germaine Bazzle singing at The Jazz Playhouse, Sonesta Hotel, New Orleans, 15th Sept 2019

New Orleans has a special place in our hearts and we hope to return.

US 2019 - Minnesota

Our first visit to the US in almost 40 years.  I visited New York in 1982 and my husband visited Baltimore where his sister lived in 1985.

At the first poetry reading by Poets Abroad which I organised at Books Upstairs in Dublin in 2016.  Leslie Thomas came from the US and I suggested to Leslie that if she organised the reading in Minnesota in 2019 that I would definitely go as that would be my 60th birthday.

So, after 40 years we traveled by train to Dublin and with Are Lingus flew directly to Minneapolis St. Paul.

We stayed on Leslie and John's boat in a little town called Afton on the St. Croix river.  We ran every other day and strolled up the road to the Afton Inn for flat bread and other local delicacies and beers or around the corner to the bike/coffee shop or Swirl wine bar.

We met a few of Leslie's friends including a sculptor/painter, Kate Sullivan who has a wonderful workshop where the local community meet to create together.

We visited Hudson, a short trip by boat or car.  We traveled to St.Paul where we met up with our Wisconsin friend, Mary Broad at The Black Dog.  There was an open mic/jazz jam where John Philip sang 'Lush Life'.  We were entertained by various musicians for the afternoon/evening.

Left to right: Frances Browner, Leslie Thomas,  Bernadette Gallagher, Thomas R. Smith, Kay Lee Penton and Barbara deCoursey Roy.

Our poetry reading on Sat 7th Sept in Afton Museum was well attended with only standing room available as our guest poet Thomas R. Smith started to read.  The other readers were Frances Browner, Barbara deCoursey Roy, Bernadette Gallagher, Kay Lee Penton and Leslie Thomas.

Afterwards Thomas R. Smith said ' I can say honestly that it was one of the absolute best group readings I've been part of, every reader substantial and distinct.' 

The audience was attentive and appreciative.  Jim Rogers connected with my work and kindly gave me a copy of his 'The Collector of Shadows'.  Jim (James Silas Rogers) will read at the Clifden Arts Festival along with Eileen Sheehan on 26th Sept.  This will be a super collaboration by two fine poets.

From the left, musician and painter, John Philip Murray & poet Jim Rogers.

Poets Abroad 2019

This year Poets Abroad hosts two poetry readings - in Maldon, Essex hosted by Julie Gilligan in June and on 7th September hosted by Leslie Thomas in Afton, Minnesota.

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Poetry Jukebox travels from Belfast to Dublin

It is great to see the Poetry Jukebox make its way from Belfast to University College Dublin.  It takes time, inspiration, planning, organisation, funding and creative thinking by individuals to make this happen.

As someone who writes poems it is so rewarding to have my work accepted for publication and to be able to highlight the work of other forgotten poets so that it can be shared with others.

Thank you most sincerely Maria McManus, Lucy Collins and Ursula Byrne, UCD for all your support for poets and poetry in Ireland.

Included are two recordings by myself - my own poem 'The Last Walk' and 'Whistler's White Girl' by Eleanor Rogers Cox. The Poetry Jukebox in Ireland is the work of Maria McManus.

Winter 2018 and start of a new year

In November 2018 I returned from my month long life changing journey to India.  I have wonderful memories of the people and places I visited.  The high point was my poetry reading at the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi and meeting with Indian writers.  My blog on India with links to photos etc is available for anyone who is interested.

During the Ó Bhéal Winter Warmer Poetry Festival in Cork in November I read the poem 'Goalkeepers' by the gentle poet Bernard O'Donoghue.  This was part of a Hurling themed poetry reading.

Those of us who presented papers as part of the 'Missing Voices' seminar at Poetry Ireland in October 2018 were asked to submit the papers for a publication to be launched in 2019.  I submitted my paper on Dorothea Herbert in January.

Early in February I visited Belfast to see and listen to the contributions in the Poetry Jukebox at the Crescent Arts Centre.  Included are two recordings by myself - my own poem 'The Last Walk' and 'Whistler's White Girl' by Eleanor Rogers Cox.  The Poetry Jukebox in Ireland is the work of Maria McManus.

My work life has changed as I move from writing in my spare time and working as a professional IT person to writing full time.  I have some other plans which I may share later this year.

In the meantime I continue to write and this year will return to submitting work with a view to publication.  I have a poetry manuscript which I am hoping may find a home within the next year.