Semaphore

wandering down drills
through redshank and nettle
cabbage-whites bobbing, stray
among the stalks, sticking
the spade in and heaving
the hoard-clutch, excavated
by the unclamped steam
on the kitchen table, opposite
where you were last year
Records fresh from the pot
in the centre, the semaphore
of Forget-me-not

*Records are a type of potato

Crayfish

They leaned in to the deck and with one move
swung the red crayfish up and out
of the bowel of the boat. Boxed
together. Neutered by the elastic
that held the claw. Antennae still
posting contrary signals. Enthralled
in gladitorial rage. Did not seem to notice
their territories were taken from under them

Spring Well

the old plans had
marked the spot
the tines of Hosty's digger
drew back
where Robert Abr'ams said
it'd be

a rood from the Kerrigan place
- a brain tumour they say
lived alone died a young man
drew the clear water
here every day

a scheme had been mooted
grants to be had
if we could but
gather and agree

standing over the new drain
wondering at
all the wells we'd sunk
and all the glasses
of brown bog water
we had drunk

^

Biography

Brendan O'Neill was reared by County Kerry
parents in Birmingham. He now lives in the West
of Ireland working as a Freelance Technical
Writer. His poetry has been featured in a number
of e-zines and published in various anthologies.
See www.iol.ie/~avocado for more details. He is
working on a first novel with the encouragement
of a leading London agent.