Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page

Poets are the pioneers and explorers in the world of feeling. Wherever you End yourself in that world, a poet may have been there before you.

He will not have had your precise emotions not experienced exactly your problem; but his experience will have had enough in common with yours for you to feel supported and reassured by what he has written.

One hundred years ago Irish nationalism was at its peak, and a search for a national identity and purpose was raging; at a crossroads of history and culture, Ireland was jolted by various converging ideas and influences it was at this crossroads James Joyce wrote "Dubliners" a collection of fifteen short stories capturing the experiences, self-understanding and illumination of the Dublin people during that time.

In this week's poem by Dave Jordan of the Ballinlough Writers Group, we get not just a glowing admiration of Joyce and Dubliners but a warm tribute from a fresh and enduring perspective.

'Dubliners'

Close to perfection,
This word magic, alchemy of the word.
This complete word world spinning,
Wrapped in its grey, urban ambience,
Softly singing,
So fresh. So clear and fresh
Like a soft spring.
And characters that come to life.
These characters are the undead:
They will never die!
And always they will bring the ecstasy
Of instant recognition.
Yes, when every story hits the spot;
When every line glows and sings
You know you're in Dear Dirty Dublin.

© Dave Jordan