a reply to brian o brien

I would leave now, go
to where the world seems wet
crossover thomond arches
where thady and the lady
danced a reel above the river

down, by munchin and
the broken stone to curragower
with thoughts of clancy poke
my finger in the pox-marked
limestone of the barracks

along with children of lir
to wellesley bridge watcin'
abbey men still in their cots
waitin' for salmon or
street-wise boys chasin' eels

then to walk with callaghan
along the quieter side
past cleeves' chimney out
to barrington's pier where
with the setting sun

i look back at my city.