s

Scents

A twitching, quivering stream
of secretion scintillates
weary, oppidan senses:
 
the thick new blood of a butcher’s display
standing cold and outright
in its unabashed raw glory;
cigarette ash flittering
as charred butterfly wings;
restaurants failing to mimic
homely scents of mother’s roast dinner;
a beggar’s growl
beneath stale, tired clothes;
the hunger of charity
in wet copper coins;
scenes of rust and concrete
in every urban corner.
 
Your mind searches for
grass, air, a river,
finding only a reflux of tyres,
chalk, grit and coffee.
 
No pearl is formed
from collecting these expulsions,
expectorating the mere essences
of ourselves.

---

Shipbuilding

Within weeks they'll be re-opening the shipyards
And notifying the next of kin
Once again
It's all we're skilled in
We will be shipbuilding
     - 'Shipbuilding', Elvis Costello and Clive Langer

1859 – 1879
SS Venetian, SS Sicilian, SS Syrian, Miranda, Ballymurtagh, SS Jane Porter, SS Grecian, SS Italian, SS Egyptian, SS Dalmatian, SS Arabian, SS Castillian, SS Catalonian, SS Star of Erin, SS Recife, SS Worrall, SS Persian, SS Alexandra, SS Star of Denmark, SS Victoria Nyanza, SS Olano, SS Palestine, Kitty of Coleraine, SS Waipara, SS Star of Scotia, SS Baroda, SS Volador, SS Star of Albion, SS Dharwar, SS Douro, SS British Peer, SS Sesostris, Salamis, Sestris, Pilot, Fairy Queen, Gypsy Queen, SS Boyne, Duddon, SS Annie Sharp, SS Guarani, SS Candahar, SS Tenasserim, SS Istrian, Black Diamond, SS Iberian, Camel Corsanegetto, SS Illyrian, SS Broughton, SS Star of Persia, HMS Lynx, Woodlawn, Hebe, SS Star of Greece, SS Juliet, Carry, SS Lady Cairns, Elaine, SS Bavarian, SS Historian, SS Bulgarian, SS Bohemian, Camel, RMS Oceanic, RMS Atlantic, SS Baltic, SS Republic, SS Adriatic, SS Star of Germany, Ferry No 1, SS Celtic, SS Gaelic, SS Belgic, SS Star of Bengal, SS Britannic, SS Belfast, SS Star of Russia, SS Aglaia, SS Germanic, SS Majestic, Katie, Millie, SS East Croft, SS Connaught Ranger, SS Fiji, SS Pizarro, Princess Beatrice, The Lagan, Gladys, SS EJ Harland, SS Thursby, SS Thurland Castle, Mousmie, SS Steelfield, SS Lord Cairns, SS Slieve More, SS Slieve Bawn, SS Star of Italy, SS Star of France, SS Slieve Roe, Faugh-a-Ballagh, SS British Empire, SS River Lagan, HMS Hecla, SS GW Wolff, SS Nubia, SS Shahjehan, SS Shahzada, SS Maharaja, SS Maharani, SS Fair Head, SS Galgorm Castle, SS British Crown, SS Lord Dufferin, SS Holmhurst.

1989 - 2003
RFA Fort Victoria, SS Knock Allen, SS Knock Clune, SS Knock Dun, SS Lowlands Trassey, SS Knock Muir, SS Knock An, SS Schiehallion, Glomar CR Luigs, Glomar Jack Ryan, SS Hartland Point, SS Anvil Point.

Monuments to ships built by Harland & Wolff, Royal Avenue

---

Shoreline

On a small beach,
the smallest of Ireland perhaps:

feet of sand
as taut as skin of drum.
unbroken by foot;

black brick of coastal rock,
all seaweed and moss;

weight of tick tock waves,
pendulum water collapsing
over itself; candy floss curl, 
fold of cake mix slide;

tugboat tide, no respite,
unrelenting lunar drag
pulling oceans in.

Sit, give way 
to this distinct splendour
of simple repetition;
history will not record this moment,
yet it is still mine to be remembered.

---

Stranmillis Embankment

This memory is mine, mine, mine alone,
undiluted by other eyes
and contrary perceptions,
the rare passing motorist unable
to fathom such beauty through their windscreen.

5a.m., and the world so alive
in the summer light,
the residents’ sleep allowing me
to chisel out a private niche of Belfast
as I stand at the apex of the bridge;

orange popcorn clouds
Paul Henry could be proud of,
the Lagan shimmering like a debutante’s necklace
lovingly wrapped around the city’s neck;

and I, the solitary admirer
in this secret gallery.