Premier Writing aims to showcase the best poetry and short fiction by new and emerging Irish writers. This week we feature two poems by Emma Towey from Roscommon.
Poetry
Athena
A warrior from Mooncoin failed by the state.
A watery apology, nothing but empty
words to echo through time.
Sorry for the scandal,
but not sorry for all the women
listening to the radio on the school run,
tightening their grip on the steering wheel,
the starchy water boiling over out of the pot,
swallowing sobs in their jobs recalling symptoms and debating dates,
standing at the clothes line in the rain
forgetting again, the nail biting
and constant twirling of hair around fingers,
doubting the piece of paper with the case number,
wondering if there are pages missing from their files too.
Words fail them, no matter how hard they try,
when warm hands grip their leg tightly,
wide eyes stare upwards and ask,
“Mummy, are you going to die?”.
Garage of Paranoia
A Jagged Little Pill poster on the wall beside the window,
half an inch of grim.
One heavy titian curtain hanging off the wooden rail,
repressing the twilight.
Black spores on the back.
Nevermind on the other wall above the drum kit
and overflowing ashtrays.
The creepie stool in the corner
harbors the bulky JVC.
The monocle of Dr Eckleburg.
Lipstick-stained beer bottles stifle the censure
a handbag upside down
its contents a compromise
scattered amongst broken glass.
Lip balm, a Walkman,
An empty carton of John Player.
The lace underwear, torn,
clings to the arm of the couch.
Musty and damp.
About the author:
Emma Towey is a secondary school teacher in Co. Galway, where she teaches English, religion and history. Her work has been published online and in print by Sparks Literary Journal, The Dark Poets Club, Literature Today, Ragaire and Autumn Leaves literary broadsheet. Emma is married with two children, and lives in Co. Roscommon.
Please see our Premier Writing page for details of how to submit your poetry or short fiction.
Loughtagalla Times 
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