Influenced by our daughter’s fascination with marine creatures detailed in her library books, we spent the summer sleeping on futon mattresses in an attic room with an A-frame structure. This room provided spectacular views of the grassy banks of St Lawrence, visible above Saguenay. Our auditory atmosphere was filled with melodies from both McCartney’s ‘Let It Be’ and Dylan’s ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’, which our son played using a pink vinyl long-player. The sound of his harmonica resonated throughout the residential quarters. Our view allowed us to see the water spread before us, mirroring the grey palette of an inland sea stretching towards an unseen country.
Undeterred by the expanse of water, we enthusiastically embraced it, paddling long, yellow canoes precariously balanced as though they were high heels on slippery ice. It felt as though we were sailing atop reflective clouds, smoothly moving as if supported by a deity’s palm, steering us North and East, and onward to the distant estuary opening.
Our journey was halted abruptly when our guide, who was a few meters ahead, called out loudly and signalled towards the river’s middle. We paused our paddling and listened to the current wash over a crustacean-covered landmass, which was revealed to be a moving mass, spraying water around its sides, before diving into the depths of the ocean, leaving us drifting aimlessly, reminiscent of Jonah facing the intimidating vastness of the rising deep sea.
The author of the text, Catherine Phil MacCarthy, garnered accolades for her published works of poetry over the years. Her five collections include ‘Daughters of the House’ (2019) and ‘The Invisible Threshold’ (2012), the latter making the shortlist for the Irish Times / Poetry Now Prize. Both collections were published by Dedalus Press in Dublin. In 2014, she received the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Irish Poetry.
“Do pay attention,” they commanded, with a pointed toward the middle of the river where our oars were idle. Our ears tuned in to the sound of the receding tide lapping at the crusty, barnacle-covered island. That soon morphed into a churning water wheel, casting out streams and displaying its majestic tail before diving into the all-consuming sea. We were left directionless, evoking images of Jonah, face to face with the rising darkness of the deep.
Catherine Phil MacCarthy is an esteemed poet, with five published collections to her name. Her works include “Daughters of the House” (2019) and “The Invisible Threshold” (2012), both released by Dedalus Press in Dublin. The latter even made the shortlist for the illustrious Irish Times / Poetry Now Prize. In 2014, she was honoured with the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Irish Poetry.