So pleased to have my poem Christmas Lullaby included in Bangor Literary Journal Christmas Day 2024 thank you so much Amy Rafferty and Paul Rafferty and Gaynor Kane
If you would like to listen to a recording you can click on the link below
This episode aired first on Saturday 27th May 2023. The guests were Richard-Yves Sitoski, Doreen Duffy, Nigel Kent, Lizzie Eldridge, Ann Condon,produced and hosted by Damien B. Donnelly. Below are details and links to all the guest stars…
This episode aired first on Saturday 29th January 2022. The guests were Jesse Miksic, Doreen Duffy, Elisabeth Horan, Lynne Jensen Lampe and Mark Antony Owen, produced and hosted by Damien B. Donnelly. Below are details and links to all the guest stars…
poetry ireland day 2021 Thank you to Eileen Casey for including my poem 'This is only for a while' in 'voices in flight, new directions maps and journeys
Writers on writing – 16 poets respond to the books that have touched their lives.
In these most trying of times, Bluefoot Press is proud to host a unique event for Poetry Day 2020.
Initially conceived and organised by poet and scientist Orla Grant-Donoghue as a live poetry event in Alan Hanna’s Bookshop, measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 have resulted in its transformation into an online-only collaboration (for now).
Determined not to let lockdown curb their creativity, poets, writers, artists, scientists and actors have produced these new works responding to a favourite book.
These have been inspired by simple lines, characters, scenes, covers, even by the memories triggered by a book.
INSIDE THE SHADOW BOX BY DOREEN DUFFY
The first drop of black on an ocean of white writes pain on her skin a story about, who she might have been, All along her spine a book, of who she wished she could have been, across each hip angel’s wings, only for love is all she breathes, the birth of a blonde haired son, Cio Cio San sings,
So, she waits, through sunrise and three years of shade, till one fine day decides, she would rather die than live with her true love’s betrayal, white powdered tears cut through her veins, She holds her son close till he can hardly breathe, tells him to remember her face in his dreams, With a blindfold of silk she stops him from seeing, tilts her head to the moon clutches the blade, draws it deep let’s music escape the shrill notes of love bringing death and peace, her wings tremble until their last note, she hears his voice call her, but it is too late.
(Inspired by a book on Madame Butterfly by Puccini
****************************************** So sad to hear that Eavan Boland has passed on 27th April 2020
****************************************** So pleased to be included in Live Encounter 10th Anniversary Edition December 2019 'Letting Go' 'The Sun is Floating' Please click on the following link
***************************************** Delighted to be invited by Orla Grant Donoghue and Olivier Cornet to write and read a response poem to
'A Truth or Dare Response to An Altered Land'
Art by David Fox
at the Olivier Cornet Gallery 2 May 2019 7pm
These paintings are very striking and each one leads the eye to a sense of distance and possibilities both good and bad within the painting and beyond. As I looked at David's paintings my mind hurtled back to an individual experience I encountered in the past where the altered landscape of the road led to life shattering consequences.
So thrilled to have my poem 'Storm' published in Orbis Literary Journal November 2018 ************************************************************* Absolutely delighted to have my poem 'The Garden on Chaffcombe Road' in response to Patrick Kavanagh's 'The Long Garden' included within the pages of 'The Lea-Green Down' edited by Eileen Casey
Fiery Arrow Press launched The Lea-Green Down -
a collection of responses to the poetry of Patrick Kavanagh, edited by Eileen Casey.
These new poems, by over 60 contributing poets, are presented alongside the poems from which they draw inspiration; by kind permission of The Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Trustees through the Jonathan Williams Literary Agency.
Kavanagh Scholar and Academic Dr Una Agnew launched the collection.
************************************************************** I am delighted to have my work included in a special edition 'Reading the Lines' a celebration of 1916 Ireland from Live Encounters May 2016 'First Light' 'Brutal Peace'
***************************************************************** So pleased to have my poetry 'Across Moon and Stars' 'The Watchmaker' 'Blue Willow' 'Eastern Promise' 'The Mind Fisher' 'Our Pergola'
included in Live Encounters Magazine May 2016 please click on the following link
********************************************************************* I was delighted to have my poetry 'Duck Feathers' 'Repair Winter Hands' 'Gone Fishing' 'Image' 'Final Journey'
'The Strawberry Beds' I recited this poem on Usher's Quay, The James Joyce Bridge for a Storymap event. Take the river Liffey out on the town show her a good time as the bells of Christchurch start to chime, catch her drift and let her take you home Out past Island Bridge where if you listen as you go you will hear the ghostly hooves that ride beside you heading home to Strawberry Beds at the water's edge where trees, roots deep bend gracefully into shade A spill of red pours over the summer evening sky where mirrored waters ebb and flow still drawn to the sweet taste of home
It was also highly commended in The Rathmines Writers Poetry Competition.
I was delighted to have my poetry 'The Box Room' 'Mixing Bowl' 'Essence of Life' published in Senior Times Magazine
'The Box Room' I entered the box room that holds the key tight in it's lock on my memories Pushed in every corner piled heavily high, on creaking boards against a lifetime of skirting scuffed by boxes filled to overflowing My eyes moved too quickly took in too much caught my breath in my open mouth reached out my hand to touch The carriage returned and as the bell rang my ears strained to hear snatches of conversations from long past years, they leaked between cardboard lids where tape too old to keep lips sealed replayed them in my head My eyes adjusted, rested at last on the radiogram, record stacked ready for it's needle to crackle across heavy black vinyl, 'his master's voice' Spinning on seventy eight to the rhythm of my mother's toes pushing the pedal of the singer while she sewed lines of memory into my life now treasured, kept within these walls of this the greatest room of all although at first glance it may seem small *********************************************************************
My Poem 'Eastern Promise' was awarded second place in The Jonathan Swift Poetry Awards
Eastern Promise
Back and forth
these letters
more frequently at first,
kept me going
drip fed my heart
eased away the hurt.
So fragile,
like tissues with
red and blue edges,
Envelopes unfolded
a lens on a life line
within translucent pages.
I saw you in paddy fields
moist beneath
tired feet,
aching limbs
pressed footprints
where sallow soles had been.
Narrowed eyes
quietly stared
beneath a wide tilted brim,
while chimes tolled
of the last fires
against an orange sky.
Your language smothered
by long drawn out tails
of sentences in high pitched screams,
from throats of ghosts
where broken stones in temples
brought you to your knees.
I can’t turn
the last page
your words are clouded
in my mind
racing thoughts mirror
my view on cold grey skies.
I know this is the day
this is the letter
I will not read to the end,
your heart has been recaptured
but mine will yours remain.
********************************************************************* My poem 'Blue Willow' highly commended in The Jonathan Swift Poetry Awards 'Blue Willow' I saw you first among those Japanese hills washed beneath the water falls blue your shape drew me in the coolness came later the hard edges much later still your picture of life flowers on a vine intricate, involved in too deep I lifted the lid on which there's no thread to pick up and follow my sins I can't close you blue seeped over the edge I have become the secret within ********************************************************************* My Poem 'The Naked Truth' highly commended European Week Against Racism 'The Naked Truth' Don't let the words come that would cause me to lose my breath dare to breathe instead white heat into bones close down all thoughts that are yours alone untie your skin loosen it at your neck allow the folds to fall like clothes on a changing room floor draw me close dance from light to dark tightly slowly close your eyes until I can see you on the inside bare your soul *********************************************************************
'Adjust Your Mindset'
My Poem 'Adjust Your Mindset' awarded third place European Week Against Racism Don't tell me what colour you are or the shape of your eyes or your face let me make up my mind let me see for myself, without revealing your race Do your veins run blue on the long journey through your body to keep you alive is your heart a good heart is it beating in time is it red and vibrant like mine Do your words float on breath from lungs white with air can you inhale the scents all around are your eyes showing pictures in all the world's colours can your ears hear the beauty of sound If we share these colours like so many others then the difference is all in our minds Our bodies the same sisters and brothers identical on the inside
Sheila Jacob has left a new comment on your post "
I've just found your Blog via Eileen Casey's. I'm not sure if this is the right place to comment on your poems but I love them, I love their movement and freedom ,their honesty and their delicious well-chosen images. Good luck with your work and your Blog.
Posted by Sheila Jacob to DoreenDuffy at 5 October 2014 04:33
Thank you Doreen for contributing your fabulous poems to Live Encounters Poetry April 2016.
ReplyDeleteSheila Jacob has left a new comment on your post "
ReplyDeleteI've just found your Blog via Eileen Casey's. I'm not sure if this is the right place to comment on your poems but I love them, I love their movement and freedom ,their honesty and their delicious well-chosen images. Good luck with your work and your Blog.
Posted by Sheila Jacob to DoreenDuffy at 5 October 2014 04:33