Morning in the wild
Author Archives: donegallizdoyle
I’m Here! CillRialaig Artists Retreat
It’s incredibly remote, wild, wet and windy. But I am cosy in my cottage studio with a roaring fire in the stove and mugs of tea constantly on the go.
There are lovely friendly artists staying in the other cottages, so far I’ve made two new friends.
I will post some images of work in progress once I get properly started. Lots of painting ideas and maybe a few poems to write too.
Old Goose
Old Goose
Standing at the open window
Of the train rushing through new terrain
Listening to the rhythmic pounding
Of the wheels on the shiny rails
~
Yes, I will, I do, I can
I see, I make, with love
Yes, I choose, I go, I try
To fly. I make a leap
~
Choosing the forward momentum
Denying the steel bars
In that cold and hungry
Prison cell of fear
~
No, to halting fearful saying
You’ve had your fill. It’s too late
No, to thinking it can’t work out
You’re too old, just be still
~
Even the old goose still makes
The journey South
She doesn’t wait
To grace your Christmas plate
~~~
An Island in the West
Surrounded by the lull
Of the lapping amniotic salty sea
~
On a calm day blue green
Serene as a lullaby
~
In a storm she crashes
And collapses the beach defences
~
Triangle mountain transcends
The violent fickle pull of the tide
He manifests new pathways
~
Pierces the clouds of self abnegation
And affirms my right
To the light of creation
~
Home of the sun god Lugh
Sharp granite peak of enlightenment
Pointer to the stars
~~~
Weather
Happy New Year 🕉
Getting there
I’m booked into the wonderful artist retreat (cottage 5 again woohoo) at CillRialaig in County Kerry for 8th January for two weeks. It will take me two days getting there on public transport, and I need to ship most of my materials in advance. I wish I found the planning stage easier, but once I’m there I’ll be there
Getting there
does the swallow
prepare for
her long flight
the night before
is the bear
aware of tomorrow
as she wakes
my brain leaps
in consternation
with calculations
of timetables
connections
arrivals departures
online booking apps
websites for overnights
advance preparations
ephemera
of getting there
from here
but once there
I’ll be there
with all of me
being simply
human
I can only
hope so
Books
thrum of dishwasher
lunch of leftovers
many too many
biscuits
and cups of tea
but in between
there are lazy hours
and books
expansive inner world
of memories
triggered by the writer’s
stories
perception jumping
from page to herstory
my story. black and white
to colour
Gap
this gap in time
a space. between
soft greys and
coming greens
a time to
change. pace
and watch a snail
trail on a square
window pane
a blur of dulled
consciousness
from pain meds
mirroring
condensation
on mid winter
dawn’s triple
glazed thrall
St Stephen’s Day
sudden gusts
of black dust
motes of
starlings
or small
songbirds
burst forth
from spidery
sycamore skeletons
waving bony
branch fingers
across the
gentle soft
grey sky
with luminous
liminal spaces
watched from
inside a
hazy cloud
of codeine
and caffeine
by bright globes
of whitest
geraniums
startling
against
these winter
hibernating
greens
Fingers Crossed
This is me at Hambly and Hambly gallery with my painting ‘Fermanagh Days’
This is my submission piece for the John Richardson French Residency Award 2021
The decision of the judges will be announced this evening.
I am so thrilled to be on the shortlist of 40 finalists for the award of a 10 day residency in France in April 2022
I wish all the shortlisted artists the very best of luck 🍀 There are 3 places available, and the winning artists will be hosted by Ciara and Nick Hambly and mentored by the Aosdana artist Eamon Colman
I’ll let you know 🤞🍀
PS. Not me! Congratulations to painters Katarzyna Gajewska and Gary Robinson 🙌
And Musician Clara Marie
donegallizdoyle 