VW Polo

(1990 - 2002)

He names the parts, offers no prognosis:
"could be a leak in the cooling system,
maybe damage to the cylinder head."
The AA man chooses his words like implements.
I watch him lash the wheels to the tow truck,
remember the Dealer's forecourt,
a line of cars, their paintwork gleaming,
you circling this one taking stock.
You, by then, used to reading the silence
between words that were carefully chosen -
the mechanics of life or death responses.
The lurch as the truck is put in gear
and the car follows, inert,
is one more increment
like recognising your writing
on a melted-down cassette,
or coming across your driving licence
in a drawer - already past its expiry date.

If I Was a Cat

I'd be the one
that draws back,
spits, splays her claws
at stretching hands
and bending faces.
I'd also be the one
pursuing moths
on my own
in the dark
so that someone
might be drawn
to my display
of artful hops.

^

Biography

Ann Leahy was born in Co. Tipperary, but has lived most of her life in Dublin. Amongst the awards received for her poetry is the Patrick Kavanagh Award, 2001. Commendations for poems include one in the British National Poetry Awards, 1999.

She has been published in Irish and UK magazines and her poems have been broadcast on Lyric FM. She has been translated into Russian and Dutch.