Jessamine O Connor
CHAPBOOKS AVAILABLE!
Reviews for both at these links: Hellsteeth .... A Skyful of Kites
NEW booklet: "Snowbird" released February 2016, available now!
All three available to buy from her website for 5 euro each, including postage to anywhere..
Reviews for both at these links: Hellsteeth .... A Skyful of Kites
NEW booklet: "Snowbird" released February 2016, available now!
All three available to buy from her website for 5 euro each, including postage to anywhere..
see her website www.jessamineoconnor.com
BIOGRAPHY
Facilitator of the Wrong Side of the Tracks Writers, and The Hermit Collective;
Judge of the New Roscommon Writing Award 2015, and the Roscommon Poets Prize as part of the Strokestown Poetry Festival 2017;
Co-ordinator of Roscommon events for Poetry Day 2016;
Winner of the iYeats and Francis Ledwidge awards 2011;
Short-listed: Over The Edge New Writer of the Year; Hennessy Literary Award; Red Line Book Festival; Leaf Books;
Dead Good Poetry; and Bradshaw Books Manuscript competitions;
Long-listed: Dermot Healy; Desmond O Grady; Hennessy, and more..
'Featured Poet International' for Muse-Pie Press (US);
Currently nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize.
Publications: Agenda; Poetry NZ; Tridae (in translation); Fifth Estate; The Stinging Fly; North West Words; Skylight47; Crannog; Dylan Thomas anthology The Colour of Saying; Incubator; Abridged; Ropes; New Irish Writing; The Roscommon Herald;
Stony Thursday Book; anthology Balancing Act; The First Cut; Shot Glass Journal; The Galway Review; Burning Bush2;
Ink Sweat and Tears; Poethead; Ireland First 'Comorodh an Sinsir 1916-2016'; and book Yeats150.
***AVAILABLE FOR WORKSHOPS AND READINGS***
WELCOME
the island speaks to refugees
I open up my craggy arms, my cliffs,
this shift of whirling gulls,
stretch my beaches wide,
reach out my hands
made of coral, stone and sand,
scatter islands like roses
or breadcrumbs, to show you
where to land
and when you’re close enough
I’ll lift up the rough cloth
of my hedges, fields and loughs,
wrap it’s patchwork cloak around you,
gather the lush green folds
and rolls of sequin blues
to make an earth cocoon
for you to grow in
because when you’re rested
and ready to stir
it will be my pleasure
to watch your wings unfold,
unfurl in my cloud-thick hair,
sprout your new roots feet deep
into my lungs and feed me
your fresh air.
----
first published in Skylight47 - February 2016, also in chapbook Snowbird
Facilitator of the Wrong Side of the Tracks Writers, and The Hermit Collective;
Judge of the New Roscommon Writing Award 2015, and the Roscommon Poets Prize as part of the Strokestown Poetry Festival 2017;
Co-ordinator of Roscommon events for Poetry Day 2016;
Winner of the iYeats and Francis Ledwidge awards 2011;
Short-listed: Over The Edge New Writer of the Year; Hennessy Literary Award; Red Line Book Festival; Leaf Books;
Dead Good Poetry; and Bradshaw Books Manuscript competitions;
Long-listed: Dermot Healy; Desmond O Grady; Hennessy, and more..
'Featured Poet International' for Muse-Pie Press (US);
Currently nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize.
Publications: Agenda; Poetry NZ; Tridae (in translation); Fifth Estate; The Stinging Fly; North West Words; Skylight47; Crannog; Dylan Thomas anthology The Colour of Saying; Incubator; Abridged; Ropes; New Irish Writing; The Roscommon Herald;
Stony Thursday Book; anthology Balancing Act; The First Cut; Shot Glass Journal; The Galway Review; Burning Bush2;
Ink Sweat and Tears; Poethead; Ireland First 'Comorodh an Sinsir 1916-2016'; and book Yeats150.
***AVAILABLE FOR WORKSHOPS AND READINGS***
WELCOME
the island speaks to refugees
I open up my craggy arms, my cliffs,
this shift of whirling gulls,
stretch my beaches wide,
reach out my hands
made of coral, stone and sand,
scatter islands like roses
or breadcrumbs, to show you
where to land
and when you’re close enough
I’ll lift up the rough cloth
of my hedges, fields and loughs,
wrap it’s patchwork cloak around you,
gather the lush green folds
and rolls of sequin blues
to make an earth cocoon
for you to grow in
because when you’re rested
and ready to stir
it will be my pleasure
to watch your wings unfold,
unfurl in my cloud-thick hair,
sprout your new roots feet deep
into my lungs and feed me
your fresh air.
----
first published in Skylight47 - February 2016, also in chapbook Snowbird
