Thousands gather to celebrate the Yes result in the Marriage Equality Referendum in Dublin Castle Courtyard on May 23, 2015
Kevin writes:
My poem in response to yesterday evening’s episode of [RTÉ One’s] Reeling In The Years, which covered 2015. I wrote the poem below in the immediate aftermath of the (overwhelming) passing of the Marriage Equality referendum in that year.
A Day of Just Yes
Word is:
the system of storms
building mid-Atlantic has now
obligingly cancelled itself out;
all remaining car accidents
have been put off until tomorrow;
no further bankruptcy notices
will come into existence
until at least Monday,
as there’s no one home
to open the envelopes;
the shadow on your mother’s
right lung will not be detectable
on an x-ray until next Wednesday
week at the earliest;
elected representatives
are permitted, for one day only,
to walk the streets openly
shaking peoples’ hands
without anyone wanting
to lock them in the boot
of an ancient Ford Escort
to think about what they’ve done
and what they’ve failed to do;
commentators from across
the ideological spectrum agree,
even Auntie Bridie’s sciatica
is better than it was
this time last week;
the other side’s slogans are,
this morning, flags
madly cheering
your victory;
the roof top crows for once
maintain a dignified silence
and appear to be enjoying
this sunshine,
which the old lady in the paper shop
says is promised
to last.
Kevin Higgins
23-5-15
