Poetry

Is this what it took?

Sam McKeon

(For Emily, my Muse)

What terrors filled your heaving chest?
Whose callous disregard or cruelties of jest,
Twisted your gut and minced your brain?
Is this what it took to hurt you,
Was that their goal?

We sit for hour on gentle hour.
My caring glance at once provokes a viper’s dance,
With darting eyes and sharpened fangs,
Whose venom drips warn: “stay back”,
But they will not deter me.

What cruelties drained your fractured heart?
Who dared to drive the fencing stakes,
Those barbed wire twists around your wounded soul?
Is this what it took to destroy you,
Was that their goal?

We sit for hour on gentle hour.
My loving glance again provokes a viper’s dance,
With darting eyes and sharpened fangs,
Whose venom drips warn “stay back”,
But they will not deter me.

No, they will never deter me.

(08.10.23)

Unknown's avatar

Published by Sam McKeon

Sam McKeon is a recluse, living on the remote rugged west coast of Ireland. Currently, Sam’s poetry tends to focus on his inner universe and the moments he spends with the very few people he is in contact with, especially his muse Emily, who has inspired almost fifty poems, tracing the development of their relationship. The astonishing drama and beauty of the wild Irish landscape is also absorbed into his writing. This can lead to some weird things, but mostly it leads to deeply passionate works stitched together with tender reflection.

Leave a comment