Untitled (It was the middle of winter in purgatory...) by Martin McKenna
it was the middle of winter in purgatory
as the staff called it.
there was only a thin blanket on the death bed.
the heat was on twenty-four, seven.
it all changed. red was the colour of the day,
if i looked at red i was safe;
strawberries were the only thing i could eat
down in the oasis.
she was seated at the head of the table
and when i sat beside her
she recounted a hazardous day;
recited directly from my diary,
i firstly wondered how, secondly
accepted her warning, limp.
kieran with a k, ciaran with a c
had me reassess my loyalties,
all i can hear are my footsteps now,
clicking a rhythm to the hum of her refrigerator.
just might break my thirst over the head of it.
as the staff called it.
there was only a thin blanket on the death bed.
the heat was on twenty-four, seven.
it all changed. red was the colour of the day,
if i looked at red i was safe;
strawberries were the only thing i could eat
down in the oasis.
she was seated at the head of the table
and when i sat beside her
she recounted a hazardous day;
recited directly from my diary,
i firstly wondered how, secondly
accepted her warning, limp.
kieran with a k, ciaran with a c
had me reassess my loyalties,
all i can hear are my footsteps now,
clicking a rhythm to the hum of her refrigerator.
just might break my thirst over the head of it.
Martin McKenna's Bio:
Marty is an independent Irish poet, born in Tyrone, now living and writing in Belfast. Marty works for the Belfast Trust and has poems published in both online and print journals. He published his first chapbook 'silent stigma, loud leaf' in 2021; he is currently submitting work for publication which will inform his second chapbook 'gently, but a dream' due in October 2022. Marty is a neurodivergent poet.
Marty is an independent Irish poet, born in Tyrone, now living and writing in Belfast. Marty works for the Belfast Trust and has poems published in both online and print journals. He published his first chapbook 'silent stigma, loud leaf' in 2021; he is currently submitting work for publication which will inform his second chapbook 'gently, but a dream' due in October 2022. Marty is a neurodivergent poet.
