Loquentes Cum Mortuis

"The people you love

become ghosts inside 

of you and like this

you keep them alive."

Robert Montgomery~

The Berkshire Eagle, January 1, 1858

I.)

"You're after developing an allergy..."

Imagine
my otherwise
lack of surprise

when I went
looking after you
there

only to find you
locked up in
the Hoosegow

on New Years
morning
for breaking

officer Halls
noggin in
a Donnybrook

no less on
Christmas Day
ain't you just like

Dad always said
you were
ain't that just

the way
to be after
celebrating

the man
of peace's
birthday

ain't that
always
the way.

The Berkshire Eagle, Friday Morning Jan. 15th, 1858 

II.)

"...an allergy to the potín..."

That it was Christmas
was not lost on me
or my father

I wonder
were you off
visiting

your brother
Patrick's
Saloon?

Were you
arguing
with Lizzie?

and the children
how did it inform
their lives?

that you were
not there
Christmas night?

that you were
missing
on New Years?

and when
you returned
20 days on

to a pregnant
wife and wayward
children

was there
passion you
keened for

longingly?

Elizabeth (Flynn) O'Brien and infant daughter reported deaths year ending June 1860 

III.)

Later
the next year
when Lizzie died

I imagine you
bereft
Keening

and all but after
becoming

allergic to the potín'

determined
to stay
home.



obeedúid~
23/Sept/12