Herb Robert
The pale-pink spikes of Herb Robert
recede in hedgebank’s galaxy
of buttercup, harebell and phlox
unsucked by butterfly or buzzing bee;
one visitor alone alights
on its unfancied petal- fair
hard to tell if wasp or fly-
its pungent nectar to imbibe.
As in the case of flowers spurned,
insects that seem grotesque,
everyone and everything
is each by nature blessed
with purpose and the gift
of love and being loved;
and for their very difference,
by only fools are scorned.
Car Park
Blonde: Tall
Legs: Long
Jeans: Blue
Coat: Brown
Colours: Clash
Beauti: Fully
Long legs
Long strides
This way
Bygone
Old man
Dream on.
Mike Gallagher was born on Achill Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland. He lived in Britain for forty years before retiring to Lyrecrompane, Co. Kerry. In Ireland he has been published in The Doghouse Book of Ballad Poems, Irish Haiku Society, Revival, The Stony Thursday Book and Crannog; outside Ireland, his poetry and prose has been published throughout Europe, America, Canada, Japan, India and Australia. He won the Eigse Michael Hartnett viva voce prize in 2010 and is a current nominee for the Hennessy Award. He is the editor of thefirstcut, an online literary journal.
