Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page
| If you have a poem you'd like to see published in The Irish Examiner then send it to:
The Poetry Corner
The Irish Examiner USA
1040 Jackson Avenue, Third Floor
Long Island City
NY 11101
or, preferably, you can email it direct to
ronniemcginn@eircom.net.
If possible keep your poem to 20 lines. You may choose any subject you like, in any form you like as long as it's original. We look forward to hearing from you. |
Technique can sometimes be a bad word. It suggests that the writing of poetry is a matter of tricks and gimmicks. But it is the only word that will serve.
Yet 'technique', you may think, suggests a coldly logical process. What has the heat of inspiration to do with the cool processes of technique?
It may be asked, "Can a poet have inspiration without technique?" or again, "Can a poet have technique without inspiration?".
Not really knowing the answer I was looking out a window in a Cork suburb when this came to mind
Protect and Serve
On lawless streets the litter spawns
The seed of our disgrace,
Half parked cars downgrade green lawns,
No sense or pride of place.
Graffiti decorates our walls
And bottles lie around
Behaviour that the mind appals
In frequency abounds.
We talk to the authorities
The masters at delays
They say they'll set up committees
To carry out survey's
And managers and engineers
Will keep it all on track
They'll put an end to all our fears
When the report comes back.
Oh poor Ireland, our dear old Ireland
Land of forgotten dreams
Oh what made you such a dire land?
Enslaved in useless schemes?
Can we not learn from others sins?
And make a proper stance
Control of all big crime begins
With zero tolerance
© Ronnie McGinn
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