Endeavours

You work the laptop mouse, conjure  

art images of Gráinne Mhaol 

with a ‘Terra Marique Potens’ banner

above her head, and her hand

clasping a sword – or a sceptre.

On-screen shimmer, shadow islands 

of Clew Bay happen over 

as she bears westward, 

the slap of waves and wind’s bluster 

at once near and far. 

                I nudge my portable craft 

where ‘window’ goes back 

to ‘wind out’, where ‘day’s eye’ 

dots the lawn and roses 

shake auburn light through curtain lace.  

Again, it’s a case of us two  

being neither here nor there, but away 

on our separate endeavours, 

alert still to the quiet glory,

the good grief that keeps us together.

Note: Gráinne Mhaol, Grace O’Malley, 16th century pirate queen of the west of Ireland.