When famished, you declared, ‘This isn’t a place for dining’.
Homeless, you protested, ‘My lodge is off-limits’.
Without a destination, your response was, ‘Keep your distance from my property’.
My dwelling was aflame and your rebuttal was, ‘Our town is at capacity’.
I battled against ISIS, and your retort was, ‘Men aren’t required here’.
My kin perished at sea, and you shrugged, ‘We lack a swimming facility’.
I expressed my chilliness, and you uttered, ‘A simple solution exists’.
Penniless, your verdict was, ‘The commercial outlets are out of reach, irrespective’.
I asserted, ‘I’m as human as you.’
You whispered in disagreement, ‘Not quite.’
I mentioned the notion of loving one’s neighbour as oneself,
Chuckles ensued, while you dismissed, ‘That’s just old nonsense.’
I reminded you, ‘this all unfolded for you too’, and you asserted,
‘That’s receding into the past’.
Alan Titley is the composer of two anthologies of poetry ‘Rabhadh:dánta’ and ‘…liricí gearra’, and is also esteemed for his verse novel An Bhean Feasa. He holds the title of Emeritus Professor of Modern Irish at UCC and is a dignitary of the Royal Irish Academy.
‘However, that’s all in the distant past.’ Alan Titley, celebrated for his two poetry anthologies ‘Rabhadh:dánta’ and ‘…liricí gearra’ along with a poetic narrative, An Bhean Feasa, is a renowned literary figure. Currently, he holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Modern Irish at University College Cork and proudly stands as a representative of the esteemed Royal Irish Academy.