for Eavan Boland

She was carried away by the sea
drawn to its abyssal depths
fire-soul’d daughter of Brigid
traveling to a lost land outside history
Carrying a sacred well of
inspiration and artistry
prophesying a feminist centering
her loss harkens to that first sorrow
Brigid keening in the surf
Exalted one’s lament invoking
The salt-stained hidden horizons
each poem ‘a figure in which
secret things confide’ – luminescent,
beached, midnight orphans of silence
humming from the cold and
their own desire to manifest,
To leave heartprints of awe
on beleaguered poets’ souls
scrying for a homeland
Shared with dVerse Poets Pub for Open Link Night.

Such a fine tribute to Eavan – daughter of Brighid, indeed — I’ll always her saying that even mothers can write poetry — “you learn to write between the changing of nappies.” Your poem is an evocative well of her. We need waters this deep now.
There is such haunting in this along with compelling responsibility.
Such a stellar & haunting poem, specially the third stanza.
Wonderful tribute to a great poet.
This is absolutely stunning! I especially admire; “The salt-stained hidden horizons/each poem ‘a figure in which secret things confide.”❤️❤️
Superb, and all leading up to this last stanza…
To leave heartprints of awe
on beleaguered poets’ souls
scrying for a homeland
Absolutely stunning..
I really love this, and had to read it a few times… the references to Brigid sent me on a reading spree… works really well with that image as well.
Thank you Anna for introducing me to Eavan Boland – and how! To think that you wrote this appreciation of her so (relatively) long ago, and that you have linked me to it today -Lughnasadh – 1 August 2025, when I have been on the Hill with Brighid as soul companion… Blessings to you this fiery day of Rowan, Birch and (here at least) misty grey.