My mind a lucid minefield
I think of Elysian Fields
celestial beings
rivers of sliver ichor.
Tall carnivorous mountains
diamonds as big as the Ritz.
The cave is guarded
they tower over me.
Ebony shields and pennants
wield their pride and honour
contemptuous stares
charcoal iridescent eyes.
Kismine and her bare pink feet
youth is only an insane dream.
About the Author
My name is Harry Kavanagh I’m a 20 year old from Urlingford. I’m currently a full time barista. I’ve been writing for a little over a year and it has become a huge passion of mine. I grew up in Urlingford which is a small town in north Kilkenny. I did my Leaving Cert in 2019 with St Kieran’s College. I went to Griffith College in Dublin to study Journalism but I am currently taking a year out and I am working as a barista in De Ja Brew, Thurles. My main influences are Arthur Rimbaud and Patti Smith and my favourite pastimes are studying poetry. reading and punk rock from the early to mid 70s. This will be my first publication and I am delighted for the opportunity. Also a special thank you to Larry Cotter for his help in this process.
3am was a poem I wrote late one night while I was suffering from insomnia. The poem is inspired from my reading of the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story The Diamond as Big as the Ritz. Fitzgerald along with Smith and Rimbaud has helped to shape my style.
Editor's Note
I really like the startling, vivid imagery in this poem – and I think it demonstrates how reading really good books can inspire you to write about things you might not have imagined before! It’s great to hear about young writers expanding their horizons with books. Whatever books you choose to read, exploring the world through reading is always a good thing. And of course, writing can be great for insomnia too!
I enjoy how this poet experiments with unusual words and expressions, and plays with the influence of other authors to hone and develop his own voice. I enjoy the surprising final couplet too, and I wonder if there is a whole strange poetic story to be developed out of this one poem!
