Ode to the Camac
The aul Camac, from Saggart and Clondalkin to Inchicore
Even Saint Patrick’s Athletic get a look in
A haven for storks and pinkeens and common garden bench warmers
Whispering Sweet nothings to South Dublin suburbs.
Shallow in parts but deeper in others
like my slowly maturing mind
A major artery connecting to Dublins aorta, the river Liffey
Where they eventually meet the Royal and Grand Canals.
The Grand bringing Kavanagh’s far flung tales from Athy
And the Royal with the old triangle by the Dubliners
Maybe there’ll be ghost barges to give some well needed release
to the spirits of the Camac river.
And when the Camac’s low from the summer sun
Maybe the spirits will condensate with the purity of the water
And they rise to a place with no pain
Just the sounds of streams and tributaries joining
Or the light splashing of water against a sloping weir.
Coming down the mountain
Then on to high walled edges and grassy embankments
Through underground tunnels
And above ground scenic relief once again
Frogs, birds and strange flies make up the traffic sounds along its casual destination.
The Irish sea your final resting place, maybe even the Atlantic
Maybe some of that water will end up on an exotic Island somewhere
And the natives will have their own words for you
When you go through their river.
The Camac. What a beautiful view.
~
Declan Geraghty is a writer, poet and spoken word performer. He’s had poetry and flash fiction published in “Dublin in the coming times”, “The flying superhero clothes horse” and the poetry anthology “Visions 2020”. He’s currently working on a flash fiction collection entitled “The Bowsie” which will be published later on this year.
