From The Hand Unbidden

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From top: Derek Mahon in 1996; His poem Everything Is Going To be All Right regained prominence during Covid-19

This morning.

Belfast-born Poet Derek Mahon has died aged 78.

RIP.

Derek Mahon, one of Ireland’s leading poets, has died, aged 78 (irish Times)

Rollingnews

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11 thoughts on “From The Hand Unbidden”

  2. ian-oh

    Sadly no idea who he was until he passed, but after reading just that one poem above, I sense we lost someone of note.

    RIP.

  4. Gabby

    His poems were well crafted. Mahon, Heaney and Longely all had some schooling in Latin or Greek and respected the wellsprings of European poetry. Poetry is a disciplined craft requiring plenty of rewriting before it is complete. Many contemporary poets show a total lack of this.

  6. millie madonna

    ‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’
    The others nod, pretending not to know.
    At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime.
    He leaves them reading and begins to climb,
    Goading his ghost into the howling snow;
    He is just going outside and may be some time.
    The tent recedes beneath its crust of rime
    And frostbite is replaced by vertigo:
    At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime.
    Need we consider it some sort of crime,
    This numb self-sacrifice of the weakest? No,
    He is just going outside and may be some time
    In fact, for ever. Solitary enzyme,
    Though the night yield no glimmer there will glow,
    At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime.
    He takes leave of the earthly pantomime
    Quietly, knowing it is time to go.
    ‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’
    At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime.

    Antarctica, Derek Mahon

    Possibly my favourite poet. RIP.

    1. Janet, dreams of big guns

      that’s beautiful too Milly, I’m not familiar with his work, thanks for sharing

      1. millie madonna

        Congrats on le petit chou, ma cherie. Absolutely deeeelighted for you xxx

        We can swap horror stories come March. I look like I haven’t slept in a year. Its a good look. You’ll love it.

        1. Janet, dreams of big guns

          Merci belle gosse ;)
          my adopted cat has got me in training crying half the night for let me in let me out ;)

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