ROOTS

the madrigal, volume ii

I Am Artifice

by róisín ní neachtain

I am from an immigrant

A river on a granite horizon

His breastbone

The flesh of her shores

From this west, I am born to a history

And I imagine myself disassembled

I am from the ground

Umbrian clay and azurite

I am paint

Wood-carved element

I am artifice and energy

A perished star

Of stars

Of broken shells

Which constellate on the edge of heat

Belonging

Reaching towards

Dust of my bodies

Forefathers

Mothers of my song

Roisin Ní Neachtain is an emerging autistic poet and artist based in County Kildare. Her art features in international private collections and she is currently working on her first collection of poetry.