Brendan Kennelly
Poem of the Week: “December” by Brendan Kennelly
It’s December, presents are lunatics—
spoons, napkins, knives, writing-paper,
classy jars of delicious jam.
Poem of the Week: “A Half-finished Garden” by Brendan Kennelly
Because her days were making a garden
She haunted that particular beach
Drawing rocks, sticks, shells and stones,
Random-pitched sea-gifts, over the years …
Poem of the Week: “The Horse’s Head” By Brendan Kennelly
‘Hold the horse’s head,’ the farmer said
To the boy loitering outside the pub.
‘If you’re willing to hold the horse’s head
You’ll earn a shilling.’
Poem of the Week: “Begin” by Brendan Kennelly
Begin again to the summoning birds
to the sight of the light at the window,
begin to the roar of morning traffic
all along Pembroke Road.
Poem of the Week: “Let it Go” by Brendan Kennelly
This time of year is usually devoted to graduation ceremonies, a celebration of taking the next step, whatever that may be. Here’s to the next step. Congratulations to all of the graduates for the year of 2014. Let it Go Let it go Out of reach, out of sight, Out of the door and the window,…
Continue ReadingPoem of the Week: “Down” by Brendan Kennelly
why does a poem
always
go
down
the page
like
a shooting
star
Poem of the Week: “Getting Up Early” by Brendan Kennelly
Getting Up Early Getting up early promises well; a milkhorse on the road induces thoughts of a sleeping world and a waking God. This hour has something sacred; bells will be ringing soon, but now I am content to watch the day begin to bloom. I would only waste my breath on poor superfluous words;…
Continue ReadingKennelly to Collaborate with Daughter on Authorized Biography
Evincing a bit of the good-humored aplomb for which he’s long enjoyed a reputation as a people’s poet among his Irish readership, Brendan Kennelly quipped that he’d “have to throw myself around in the sea in Ballybunion to shock my childhood memories back.” Kennelly and daughter Doodle will reportedly begin work on the biography next…
Continue ReadingPoem of the Week: “A Language” by Brendan Kennelly
A Language I had a language once. I was at home there. Someone murdered it Buried it somewhere. I use different words now Without skill, truly as I can. A man without a language Is half a man, if he’s lucky. Sometimes the lost words flare from their grave Why do I think then of…
Continue ReadingA Lil’ Bit of Lit. Crit.: “The Essential Brendan Kennelly”
In their foreword to the Press’s fall publication of The Essential Brendan Kennelly, Terrence Brown and Michael Longley write that “Kennelly’s poetry is instinctively sociable, hospitable as it is the lives, voices, deeds and defining deaths of a host of characters.” Textually, this quality of Kennelly’s work leaps off the page through Kennelly’s written shifts…
Continue ReadingU2: Brendan Kennelly’s Number One Fans
Like many Irish people, the poet Brendan Kennelly is a fan of the band U2. However, Kennelly has a leg up on his fellow U2 fans: the band is a fan of him. Kennelly is often called “the people’s poet” for his open, accessible style, (Dublin’s Sunday Tribune). Kennelly’s epic poem, The Book of Judas,…
Continue ReadingThe Art of a Cover
It’s traditional for the portrait of authors to be put on covers of compilation volumes of their work. Brendan Kennelly, despite his “notes of disgust, fierce satire, sardonic bitterness” looks fairly happy on the cover of his new selected as a man who has grown into his career as a poet and grown into his…
Continue ReadingNews Updates
Hello everyone! Some updates on the wonderful world of Irish poetry in North America: We have received Brendan Kennelly’s newest book, The Essential Brendan Kennelly, today! Very exciting news. The Women’s Anthology tour is well underway. The ladies have since been in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York, with great crowds at each place. Thank you everyone…
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