Five Poems by Marguerite Doyle

 

The Lighthouse Keeper 

 

 

As I climb the steps to set the lamp of light 

I watch the whoopers string along the bay 

into the sunset and the coming night. 

 

They knit a thread in their line of flight 

and fold along the edging of the day 

as I climb the steps to set the lamp of light. 

 

In evening pink I see their feathers white, 

as one falls back, another takes its place 

into the wind and the coming night. 

 

In a cold ocean, the candle flame is bright 

its pool casts a path along my way  

as I climb the steps to set the lamp of light. 

 

I wonder what is small and what is might 

and if swans could speak, what would they say 

into the storms and the coming night. 

 

The swans dip and disappear from sight, 

I watch them from the window as they fade 

as I climb the steps to set the lamp of light, 

into the darkness and the coming night. 

 

 

 

 

The Willow Tree 

 

Beside the lake in her gown of white, 

the willow tree stands in quiet grace. 

She wears the veil of moon at night, 

beside the lake in her gown of white. 

Woodland deer stand guard at night 

while frost dresses her in finest lace. 

Beside the lake in her gown of white 

the willow tree stands in quiet grace. 

 

 

 

 

Coffee Break After Viewing the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin 

 

 

On Epiphany I sheltered with an indulgent latté 

upstairs at the jingle bell window 

out of the storm. 

 

Nearby, a voice spoke too crudely of commerce; 

I drowned it out with thoughts of Trinity 

and quiet contemplation. 

 

The hot white light of the café sign in the frozen 

rain streamed thin curlicues 

of incense, like script. 

 

They seemed to strike the campanile, illuminating  

vespers, falling like gilded leaves  

into a liturgy of winter. 

 

A host of umbrellas milled round the door, seeking 

some refuge, but I did see others 

not so fortunate turned out. 

 

They whirled kaleidoscopic at the margin, in robes 

of emerald-green, crimson red, cobalt blue 

and even, a bright, pointed star. 

 

A mass of pure colour and the precious book encased 

across the road mirrored like ink 

in the black glass. 

 

With anonymity I watched needles of steel drench  

them like bittersweet notes in  

a glorious choir. 

 

I brushed past the scholars and business brunches, 

out to the newly washed streets where I 

had seen the jewels of Heaven.

 

 

 

 

Banshee 

 

 

Banshee shrouded in her black veil, 

her mournful cry piercing the night. 
In snowdrift fields and coastal gale, 
banshee shrouded in her black veil. 

Moon dims her lamp and turns away, 
owls flit like ghosts in shifting light. 
Banshee shrouded in her black veil, 
her mournful cry piercing the night. 

 

 

 

 

The Forfeit  

 

 

Once a child went walking in the night, 

half in slumber, but not yet awake, 

searching for a woman with blue eyes. 

 

She told the wolf, the tawny owl in flight, 

the shadows, the whirly-gigs, the hare, 

once a child went walking in the night. 

 

The harvest moon lit her lamp so bright, 

a mother wolf ventured from its lair 

searching for a woman with blue eyes. 

 

A tower loomed, silvered in the night, 

black dogs roamed, locks upon the gate, 

once a child went walking in the night. 

 

A witch flew down, and for a sacrifice 

did cast a spell to help the little maid 

searching for a woman with blue eyes. 

 

On azure wings, out flew a butterfly, 

made of glass, brittle as frosted lace. 

Once a child went walking in the night 

searching for a woman with blue eyes.

Marguerite Doyle holds an M.A. in Creative Writing from Dublin City University. Her poems have been published in Vallum, Reliquiae Journal, The Seventh Quarry, The Galway Review, The New Welsh Reader, Dreich and previously in Lothlorien Poetry Journal.  Marguerite’s poetry also appears in the Dedalus Anthology, Local Wonders: Poems of Our Immediate Surrounds and The Ireland Chair of Poetry Commemorative Anthology, Hold Open the Door. She has been Winner in Category for the Trócaire / Poetry Ireland Competition and was both shortlisted and highly commended for the Anthology Poetry Award. In 2024 she was Winner of the Poets Meet Painters International Poetry Competition, as part of Kenmare Arts Festival, Co. Kerry, Ireland.