by Seamus Heaney
When I landed in the republic of conscience
it was so noiseless when the engines stopped
I could hear a curlew high above the runway.
At immigration, the clerk was an old man
who produced a wallet from his homespun coat
and showed me a photograph of my grandfather.
The woman in customs asked me to declare
the words of our traditional cures and charms
to heal dumbness and avert the evil eye.
No porters. No interpreter. No taxi.
You carried your own burden and very soon
your symptoms of creeping privilege disappeared.
-------------
Fog is a dreaded omen there but lightning
spells universal good and parents hang
swaddled infants in trees during thunderstorms.
Salt is their precious mineral. And seashells
are held to the ear during births and funerals.
The base of all inks and pigments is seawater.
Their sacred symbol is a stylized boat.
The sail is an ear, the mast a sloping pen,
the hull a mouth-shape, the keel an open eye.
At their inauguration, public leaders
must swear to uphold unwritten law and weep
to atone for their presumption to hold office –
and to affirm their faith that all life sprang
from salt in tears which the sky-god wept
after he dreamt his solitude was endless.
------------
I came back from that frugal republic
with my two arms the one length, the customs
woman having insisted my allowance was myself.
The old man rose and gazed into my face
and said that was official recognition
that I was now a dual citizen.
He therefore desired me when I got home
to consider myself a representative
and to speak on their behalf in my own tongue.
Their embassies, he said, were everywhere
but operated independently
and no ambassador would ever be relieved.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Running Just to be on the Run
After several hours tinkering with the course planner on www.run.com yesterday I realised that I've been totally underestimating the lengths I've been running in training for the half-marathon.
Instead of being comfortable doing 12/13km as I thought I was, it turns out I'm comfortable doing about 8km and am most uncomfortable getting to 12km.
I went about 11km yesterday after work and am stiff as a board today--including a bizarrely stiff neck that causes me agony if I turn left - yes I'm no longer an ambi-turner. Swing dancing should be fun later this evening ;)
How the hell am I going to do 21.5km up and down Connemara hills on Sunday week?
It seems I'm running out of time (boom boom). A lot of pain is coming my way on April 6th and there's not a lot I can do about it.
Instead of being comfortable doing 12/13km as I thought I was, it turns out I'm comfortable doing about 8km and am most uncomfortable getting to 12km.
I went about 11km yesterday after work and am stiff as a board today--including a bizarrely stiff neck that causes me agony if I turn left - yes I'm no longer an ambi-turner. Swing dancing should be fun later this evening ;)
How the hell am I going to do 21.5km up and down Connemara hills on Sunday week?
It seems I'm running out of time (boom boom). A lot of pain is coming my way on April 6th and there's not a lot I can do about it.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ciara - my Irish Daily Star
Finally the rest of the world can understand my awe and respect for my housemate and friend Ciara Boylan.
Not only has she got her viva for her phd this week but she also managed to start a 'media storm' in Ireland yesterday with a carefully timed email to the Russell Brand show. She had noticed some overlap in the topics under discussion on his show and those that popped up on the Ray Darcy show.
Her biting email caught the eye of Brand's researchers; he devoted his show on Saturday to the 'theft'; the Ray Darcy show responded on Monday and today.....her dream of tabloid coverage came true!
Page 3 of The Star features the story of 'out-of work sculptor' Ciara Boylan and her provocative email habits. She got her picture in the paper and all!
When interviewed about her 15 minutes of fame s glowing Ciara said "It's great--I've had the best day of my life. I'm not going to stop here - TV is next!"
"I want to thank ace reporter Bob Cox, the support of my family and friends and, most of all, my future husband Russell Brand for rising to the bait".
Good luck on Thursday Ciara, oh and happy birthday for Friday.
You rock.
Not only has she got her viva for her phd this week but she also managed to start a 'media storm' in Ireland yesterday with a carefully timed email to the Russell Brand show. She had noticed some overlap in the topics under discussion on his show and those that popped up on the Ray Darcy show.
Her biting email caught the eye of Brand's researchers; he devoted his show on Saturday to the 'theft'; the Ray Darcy show responded on Monday and today.....her dream of tabloid coverage came true!
Page 3 of The Star features the story of 'out-of work sculptor' Ciara Boylan and her provocative email habits. She got her picture in the paper and all!
When interviewed about her 15 minutes of fame s glowing Ciara said "It's great--I've had the best day of my life. I'm not going to stop here - TV is next!"
"I want to thank ace reporter Bob Cox, the support of my family and friends and, most of all, my future husband Russell Brand for rising to the bait".
Good luck on Thursday Ciara, oh and happy birthday for Friday.
You rock.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Dear Dirty Dublin
I'm beginning to see the nastier side of Dublin life....Got my brand new shiny red bike nicked at the weekend.
Bastards!
There's a slim possibility that I may have left the padlock on the shed unlocked so I can't even be righteously angry at the theft - I was asking for it.
They even nicked my bicycle pump.
Ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
*******************************************
Meanwhile 100 Minutes goes up tomorrow night and I'm operating the lights a few nights this week.
*busy*
*******************************************
Training update:
So it's less than 5 weeks to my half-marathon--time I started, you know, running and stuff.
I did about 9/10km on Sunday (after 12 days hiatus) and now have legs stiff as concrete. It's kind of a good feeling though...not sure why.
Goals:
* not to leave it another 12 days till next run.
* not to screw up the lights of the play when I'm responsible.
* to get lots of 100 Minutes posters up over next few days.
* to track down a cheap second-hand battered looking bike that no one will want to nick...know anyone who's selling?
Bastards!
There's a slim possibility that I may have left the padlock on the shed unlocked so I can't even be righteously angry at the theft - I was asking for it.
They even nicked my bicycle pump.
Ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
*******************************************
Meanwhile 100 Minutes goes up tomorrow night and I'm operating the lights a few nights this week.
*busy*
*******************************************
Training update:
So it's less than 5 weeks to my half-marathon--time I started, you know, running and stuff.
I did about 9/10km on Sunday (after 12 days hiatus) and now have legs stiff as concrete. It's kind of a good feeling though...not sure why.
Goals:
* not to leave it another 12 days till next run.
* not to screw up the lights of the play when I'm responsible.
* to get lots of 100 Minutes posters up over next few days.
* to track down a cheap second-hand battered looking bike that no one will want to nick...know anyone who's selling?
Monday, February 25, 2008
Same Weekend
In the same weekend that Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova win the Oscar for Best Original Song in a Feature Film, representing our country with pride and talent.......we elect as our representative to go to Eurovision none other than.....
Dustin
the
Turkey.
Just how incongruous it is that these two events coincided I cannot gauge as yet.
But it's big - big I tell ya!
Dustin
the
Turkey.
Just how incongruous it is that these two events coincided I cannot gauge as yet.
But it's big - big I tell ya!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Sick
http://www.asofterworld.com/
I'm in recovery from a nasty vomiting bug - the horrible bit involving puking every hour and wanting to die in between is over. Now I'm just wrecked and, although I should eat, am very suspicious of food in general.
Woe is me.
I'm in recovery from a nasty vomiting bug - the horrible bit involving puking every hour and wanting to die in between is over. Now I'm just wrecked and, although I should eat, am very suspicious of food in general.
Woe is me.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Show Must Go On...
So after a restful one day's break I'm back in organisation mode - 100 Minutes 2008 is running in Project from 5-15 March and I'm in charge of publicity...
So come see it please!
It's 'ten short plays about now', all new writers and young talented actors and directors. I've sat through early rehearsals and I can already say without hesitation that it will rock your world (not like a big bag of drugs, more like a really good cake, so says the DOD).
Painted Filly Theatre was set up by my buddies Ruth and Jennifer back in 2005 and has produced consistently good stuff ever since. Check out www.paintedfilly.com for more info and reviews etc.
You can book your tickets at www.project.ie or 01-8819613.
Over and out.
Du jour:
This Business of Love - Domino - hard to track down song that was used for a dance routine at Goodnight Sweetheart - truly sensational! Voila. Daniel and Sandra.
So come see it please!
It's 'ten short plays about now', all new writers and young talented actors and directors. I've sat through early rehearsals and I can already say without hesitation that it will rock your world (not like a big bag of drugs, more like a really good cake, so says the DOD).
Painted Filly Theatre was set up by my buddies Ruth and Jennifer back in 2005 and has produced consistently good stuff ever since. Check out www.paintedfilly.com for more info and reviews etc.
You can book your tickets at www.project.ie or 01-8819613.
Over and out.
Du jour:
This Business of Love - Domino - hard to track down song that was used for a dance routine at Goodnight Sweetheart - truly sensational! Voila. Daniel and Sandra.
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