Across the Narrow Straits

Rosemary Power is an author of books and articles on Iona and the medieval Hebrides, an editor of refugee stories, and a member of the Iona Community, with extensive experience in church ministries and social justice situations. This is her first full collection of poetry.

• CONTENTS Introduction     7Inside the music     10 The journey     11Glen Nant     12This side the shadows     13The bell     14In the west     16Snæfellsnes     18Prayer for writers     20Brendan     22The island. Iona     23Columcille     24Iona visitors     25 Hermit     26Reilg Oran Chapel     27Hill of the Angels/St Michael’s Chapel, Iona     28Girls known to Jesus     29Adomnán     32 Staying the seasons – Passiontide and beyond     33Rathlin’s other island     34Lament of the fig-tree     35It was the third hour     36Oughter cross     37After the plague: Holy Saturday     38The empty day     39In the dew     40Belfast Trideum:     42The day God called     42Maundy Thursday night     43Good Friday morning     45Good Friday evening. Belfast Covenant, 1988     47 Holy Saturday. It may be God     48Easter Sunday. After the ceasefire     50Belfast Pentecost     51 Staying the seasons – Christmas and beyond     53City Christmas     54Child of the manger     56Joseph     58Herod once heard     59Decoys     60Border Presentation     61The Flight     63 The return – places of giving     67Kylemore     68Holy Island quernstone     70Rain at Corcomroe     72Loop Head     73Lehinch     74Illaunamanagh cemetery, Shannon     75 The return – places of story     77Western knitter     78Ballad from Death Row     80The last wolf     82Clearances     84Caithness windfarm     87Refugee     88The shallow Channel     89Moneen teen/The journey     90Gaza:     93For the young who die alone     93In the wildness     94Crossing     95In the time of Covid-19     96Spring     98Burren light     99