Download PDF Here
Live Encounters Poetry & Writing 16th Anniversary Volume Six
November- December 2025
Sotto Voce, poems by Paddy Donoghue.
Sotto Voce
In the slow season of changing colours
with pavements carpeted in gilded leaves
parks, woodlands – radiant in autumnal light
rivers and streams meander quietly
as if gathering time and
everything changes shape.
Days usher nights into darkness
with more urgency and
almost unnoticed his mind begins to slide
into the dungeons of memory
where alone he must battle the terrors
that rise from their annual slumber to taunt.
Shutting the world outside, he slumps
each evening in his chair waiting patiently
as he knows he must for come they will
spreading their tentacles their venom
coursing his veins like iced blood
feeding the desolation.
His mind screams into the stillness
body recoils – crumbles into the abyss
for he knows the darkness has begun
and in a quiet voice he capitulates
knowing that his time in melancholy
has begun…. again.
The Line
For a young Palestinian girl, aged 9
Lest we forget.
Herded between makeshift barriers
two – three abreast
shuffling forward
towards the white tent – in the distance
one could be forgiven for imagining
it were a queue for concert tickets.
The tent, clearly marked – top and side
with a red cross
distribution point
for medical and food supplies to a destitute
people, waiting days for relief – for food
the currency of life in a war plundered land.
A young girl, clutching a red plastic bowl to
her fragile body –
with both hands
wide eyed – her arid skin hanging
lifelessly to her protruding bones – the
way rags might hang on a branch to dry.
Invisible to the world (to all but herself).
A scowling bark
beckons the line
to keep moving forward – toe to heel
inch by inch – weaving a crescent shape
agonisingly listless – edging ever closer.
Suddenly, the puncturing wail of gunfire
rapid exchanges –
screams and cries –
the line breaks, the young girl – alone
drops to the ground, dust scatters and
a red plastic bowl blows with the wind.
© Paddy Donoghue
Paddy Donoghue was born in Glencolmcille but now resides in Bundoran, Co. Donegal. Writing poetry since secondary school days, he has had several pieces published over the years, in many literary journals and magazines. He has won awards for his poetry in both the Irish and English language. Read his work at several literary events including, at Cúirt, Scríobh and the Macklin festivals. Paddy facilitates writing workshops and was a founding member of the original Bundoran Writers group and the current Atlantic Writers Ink group. This year he was selected as the Bealtine poet and facilitated at workshops across Donegal. His collection, Leave Taking, published in 2024, has been shortlisted for the CAP Awards 2025 in the anthology/poetry section.
