These are the delay days. A poem by Anne Donnellan

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

These are the delay days

Sheltered like cattle
in slatted sheds, we wait for shift
of winter’s wickedness.

Yard brush shoved deep
in our notion streams we must sweep
the slurry of doubt. Scrape grey
clear paths for clean beginnings
toss hope on the slops of fear.

We will graze the green again
bounce in a better bright of freshness,
surrender to paddock of chance
whenever this vile may pass.

​ ​…………..

Anne Donnellan attends the Kevin Higgins poetry workshops in Galway. She has been published in the NUIG Ropes Literary Journal 2018 and 2019, A New Ulster, The Linnet’s Wings, Bangor Literary Journal, Poethead, the Clare Champion and Galway City Tribune.She was a featured reader at the March 2019 “Over The Edge Open Reading” in the Galway City Library.

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