Holds Upon Happiness

John O’Donohue was an Irish poet, philospher, and author. He was also a Catholic priest for a number of years. His writing is credited with helping to popularize Celtic spirituality. O’Donohue was also very involved with environmental activism. He died when he was fifty-two. Now you endeavorto gather yourselfAnd withdraw in slowAnimal woundednessFrom love turned sour and ungentle.When we love, the depth in usThrusts itself forward untilThe empty space betweenBecomes gradually wovenInto an embrace where longingCan close its weary eyes.Love can seldom end clean;For all the tissue is tornAnd each lover turned strangerIs dropped into a ruin of distanceWhere emptiness is young and fierce.Time becomes strange and slipshod;It mixes memories…

Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish Poet and Playwright. She was the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2019. She says of her poetry, “I like to use simple words, but in a complicated way.” You like safe sounds:the dogs lapping at their bowls;the pop of a cork on a bottle of plonkas your mother cooks;the Match of the Day theme tuneand Doctor Who-oo-oo. Safe sounds:your name called, two happy syllablesfrom the bottom to the top of the house;your daft ring tone; the low gargleof hot water in bubbles. Half asleepin the drifting boat of your bed,you like to hear the big treessound like the sea instead.Safe…