Live Encounters Poetry & Writing February 2025
Pacemaker, poem by Noel Monahan.
“I had the Pacemaker implanted in the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin on Friday 10th. January 2025.”
Pacemaker
Tea and toast before we set out
For The Mater Hospital.
Pleroma of snowflakes falling
Winter sun lights up the morning.
It’s back to a world of
Slippers and dressing gowns,
Back to supporting pillows,
Back to one’s heart missing the beat,
Back to Rainbow Bibles
And the colour of tenderness
In a nurse’s smile.
At times like this I become spiritual.
My mind strays back
To forgotten times, books I’ve read
About the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Book of Enoch,
Enoch was the father of Methuselah,
Great Grand Father of Noah
(As if that matters ! )
The sacred geometry of Pythagoras
Flows through my veins
Metal heart beats strike symbols into words
( How can I explain this? )
It’s like my heart has moved to another planet,
An alien planet of codes:
iPhone passwords:
“ Ask for bleep 8206
Shifting patterns of vibration dots
Old and new conflicts,
Prayers from far-off times and places
Echo
Words flowing in and out of each other:
You Need A New Pacemaker Installed:
NOW
Cardiac Care Team gather round
Drip in my arms
Local anaesthetic to numb the skin
The Surgical Magician
Creates a small purse below the collar bone
To fit the pacemaker in
Pacemaker leads
To restart the heart if it stops.
My pacemaker has fallen
Into place
Now it’s back to making poetry
Poetry
More closely connected
To the heart.
© Noel Monahan
Noel Monahan is a native of Granard, Co. Longford, now living in Cavan. He has published seven collections of poetry with Salmon Poetry. An eight collection, Celui Qui Porte Un Veau, a selection of French translations of his work was published in France by Alidades, in 2014. A selection of Italian translations of his poetry was published in Milan by Guanda in November 2015: “Tra Una Vita E L’Altra”. His poetry was prescribed text for the Leaving Certificate English, 2011- 2012.
His play: “Broken Cups” won the RTE P.J. O’Connor award in 2001and Chalk Dust, a long poem of his, was adapted for stage and directed by Padraic McIntyre, Ramor Theatre, 2019. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Noel had to reinvent his poetry readings and he produced a selection of Short Films: “Isolation & Creativity”, “Still Life”, “Tolle Lege” and A Poetry Day Ireland Reading for Cavan Library,2021.
Recently, he edited “Chasing Shadows”, a miscellany of poetry for Creative Ireland. His ninth poetry collection, “Journey Upstream” was published by Salmon Poetry in April 2024.
Noel – this is all remarkable news – I was aware that I had barely heard from you over Christmas after my letter, so was not fully surprised by what has clearly been a difficult Christmas and indeed later 2024 for you. You poor sod! I liked the Surgical Magician and how the poem ended – grounded in the spirit – if that’s not an oxymoron!. I am busy myself – very busy, and am somewhat warned by you who I have always felt worked too hard. A friend tells me Longley has just died. We must be careful. Blessings on you both. We are in Berlin soon and in Ireland for August. I will contact you before then. Love to Anne. X Gerry and Margaret.