Talking to Stones

Through the coolness
of the stone corridor
reading ogham
into our trite conversation
into the quad
and sunshine
and bodies making ogham
lines along the path
until our conversation
turns to stone.
Making a meal
of dining out with you
flashing your plastic
in my face and
stammering in my ear –
how could you accuse me
of playing with your heart
as you stuffed your face.
‘Arts as a faculty’ you said
‘is way down the line’
so I took to reading stones
in the stillness
and compared your mind
to a corridor.
From gothic windows
I saw magic in the mist
hanging over the quad
and felt the druidic splendour
of those stones.

Liz O’Donoghue
“Talking to Stones” is from Train To Gorey (Arlen House, 2009).