Live Encounters Poetry & Writing 16th Anniversary Volume Four
November- December 2025
Conversations, poems by Finbar Lennon.
Conversations
An evening sway in sky before a conversation,
word of mouth to fleeting image – spellbound;
they swarm, swoop and swirl in fading light
together and apart, multitude on manoeuvres,
no belonging to the flock or separation to distinguish,
pause in murmuration to foretell a flight to ground;
when day is done, land in reeds to rest and greet –
whistle blows along the rows to signal home.
Up next a different kind of ‘murmur’, more a storm,
darting schoolyard runs by screaming children,
some huddle round in pods to match the squall,
jumbled morning traffic, discordant sounds, abound;
clamour is their name, standouts in the crowd,
din is dimmed at bell, when conversation stalls,
enter class in single file to answer yes when called;
to and fro each day engaged in nature’s social norms.
Teenage years ever shorter, as many grow up old,
no bell to ring when lonely, downtime spent alone,
lost online in adult world, answers are all cold;
when not beside – no smiles to share, the words
don’t greet, no hands to touch, no comfort felt,
gestures matter more when sadness in the core;
best reflect on starlings and what went on before,
don’t give up on senses – count on voice and tone.
Eyes for you
Eye contact was the cue for spark
that day in April long ago.
she held her gaze – his wandered
to the cloth of white she wore;
moments spoiled by wink astray,
missed his chance with half glance;
he realised too late, it is the eyes
that count – set the course to be,
spring blooms don’t last till June.
To meet again when all is done,
he with offspring, she with none,
twenty years had passed them by;
wistful minutes – gazing eyes,
another telling moment in their lives,
gestures yes, they matter naught;
two butterflies at rest on grass,
in blink, fly off on different paths.
On High!
With a long arm he could pluck a star.
Instead hailed a bus and missed a call;
no message left to track a name,
head on pane, watched dark outside,
at end of day the light goes out,
not for him, his drugs will come
the heroin and crack cocaine;
short half lives, fast decays,
why no delay when pressed to pay
by furtive youths in tawdry suits;
his crave will not protect his brain
or stop his life been blown away.
© Finbar Lennon
Finbar Lennon is a retired surgeon. He lives in Dublin. He is the author of three collections of Poetry published by Lapwing Publications,Belfast (2021/2022). He is a member of the Bealtaine writing group and has had poems published online in Live Encounters, Planet Earth Poetry and on Viewless Wings. Two of his poems have recently been published in a new Anthology “When The Lapwing Takes Flight” edited by Amos Greig. Some of his early poems appear in his late wife’s memoir “The Heavens are all Blue” that he co-authored. It was published by Hachette Ireland in 2020.