Gearoid O'Brien poet and broadcaster. His poems have appeared in Neptune's Kingdom, Prospice (Scotland) and Poetry Ireland Review (Dublin). In recent times he has had work published in several Irish literary journals: Abridged (Derry), Revival (Galway), Ropes (Galway), The Stony Thursday Book (Limerick) The Blue Max Review (Fermoy) and the anthology 'I Live in Michael Hartnett'. He won the Desmond O'Grady International Poetry Competition in 2013 and the Hanna Greally Literary Award for Poetry in 2014 and 2015. He works as a librarian in the public library service in his native Athlone.

Gearoid O'Brien

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Philadelphus Falling

Several times I saw it cut to the quick
Only to flower again and prosper
Recalling the love once lavished on it.

Its flowers in May and June are so fair and
And so abundant as they catch the light,
Wave in the breeze, sparkle in the sun.

But today its fragrant petals falling
Become the souls of the still-born
Reminding me of sisters I never knew

White flowers turned to fallen petals
Scatter on the roadside, blow in the wind,
Leave no footprints, no clues to follow

But yet they have contrived to stop me
In my steps, and imprint their scent upon me
This is something I will never forget.