Unseasonal poems from 'The Ghost in the Lobby' #6

Here is the fifth in the series of unseasonal poems from my most recent book The Ghost in the Lobby which was published by Salmon in April.

It’s called ‘Them and You’ and you can read it here.  

Any resemblances to persons real or imaginary are entirely deliberate. No affairs were had with dental assistants during the making of this poem.  

Unseasonal poems from 'The Ghost in the Lobby' #5

Here is the fifth in the series of unseasonal poems from my most recent book The Ghost in the Lobby which was published by Salmon in April.  

It’s called 'Community Employment Scheme' and you can read it here. 

No blank cheques were signed during the making of this poem; and if they were, no one will ever speak of them. 

Unseasonal poems from 'The Ghost in the Lobby' #4

Here is the fourth in the series of unseasonal poems from my most recent book The Ghost in the Lobby which was published by Salmon in April.   

It’s called 'Alternative History: Constance Markievicz Gets A Sex Change' and you can read it here. 

Any resemblances to persons real or imaginary are entirely deliberate. Despite rumours to the contrary, no members of Direct Democracy Ireland were given sex changes during the making of this poem. 

Unseasonal poems from 'The Ghost in the Lobby' #3

Here is the third in the series of unseasonal poems from my most recent book The Ghost in the Lobby which was published by Salmon in April. 

It’s called 'What It Says About You' and you can read it here. Any resemblances to persons real or imaginary are entirely deliberate. No electricity was run through anyone's soft bits during the making of this poem. 

Unseasonal poems from 'The Ghost in the Lobby' #2

Here is the second in the series of unseasonal poems from my most recent book The Ghost in the Lobby which was published by Salmon in April. 

It’s called Lament For A Latter Day Progressive and you can read it here. Any resemblances to persons real or imaginary are entirely deliberate. I apologise to any makers of socially aware pornography who might be offended by some of the contents of this poem.

A Latter Day Progressive- also Beavis & Butthead's teacher

 Another Latter Day Progressive- also Cherie Blair's sister

And another-fan of Mr. Fidel Castro 
but the anti-water charges movement not so much

Unseasonal poems from 'The Ghost in the Lobby' #1

Between now and New Years day I will each day post an unseasonal poem from my most recent book The Ghost in the Lobby which was published by Salmon in April. 

Here is the first. It’s called Crowbar. Any resemblances to persons real or imaginary are entirely deliberate. I do apologise to any crowbars offended by the person I compare them to in this poem.

Poem in Minor Literature(s)

Minor Literature[s] was launched in 2013 as a "platform for the work of writers, filmmakers, photographers, artists operating on the cultural, geographic, and social fringes."

About the kind of writing it is keen on publishing it says: "We are particularly interested in peripheral, experimental, Global South, queer, outsider, radical, and genre-shattering writing and visual arts. We welcome work in translation, second language writing, and the work of anyone stuttering in their own major language.”

I have a topical poem in the latest issue, which you can read here.  The issue also includes, among other things, flash fiction by Dave Lordan.

The Ghost in the Lobby one of Eyewear blog's best books of 2014

Eyewear "THE most widely-read BRITISH POETRY BLOG since 2005" has chosen The Ghost in the Lobby as one of its best 22 books of this year. You can read the full list here.  

This follows a most generous review on the same blog earlier in the year which said, among other things, “The Ghost in the Lobby, his fourth collection, just out now from Salmon Publishing, is a major work of Irish poetry - it is a masterpiece.  Were it not for the very odd politics of place, publishers, and prizes, Higgins - who is, of course, highly regarded by many of his peers already - would by now be seen as the leading Irish poet of his generation, South of Dundalk, anyway.  He is, in fact, a genius, much like Patrick Kavanagh was, despite and because of, his faults, regional influences, and personal vision.” You can read the full review here.

looking forward to the day when 'Irish Government Minister Unveils Monument To Victims of Pro-Life Amendment'

TD Clare Daly's bill calling for a Referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment (Article 40.3.3) from the Irish Constitution will be debated in the Dáil tomorrow Wednesday 17th December from 7pm.

The Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment is appealing to all Pro-Choice activists to join the rally outside the Dáil Wednesday evening to put pressure on TDs from all political parties to vote in favour of the bill.

Here is a relevant poem which I wrote in 2013: 'Irish Government Minister Unveils Monument To Victims of Pro-Life Amendment'

It also appears in my collection The Ghost In The Lobby which was published in April by Salmon.