Spanish Italian Border
Published on 18. February 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
60 pages
978-1-908376-34-3 (ISBN)
Description
As the title suggests, this is a book that contorts the world we know, oddly fluid and yet grounded in subjects that range from rural Ireland to sub-maritime journeys to Spain, from unheard of languages to ghost dogs. Wherever Tierney takes us she reveals desire, a search for connection with people and place, that if found isn't necessarily intense, or long-lasting. The playful tone of many of these poems dances lightly over careful construction and a crafted precision for what she describes. Through acute observations and litanies, there are echoes of song and chants that pull you innocently through to often shocking climaxes. However, never lost underneath all these poems is a genuine celebration of life and its peculiarities.
Reviews / Votes
Of Dream Endings (Rack Press): "Roisin Tierney's subjects may be the dark ones of human vulnerability and anguish, but the poems in this wonderfully cohesive and well-organized sequence rest on solid and graceful foundations of precision, musicality and wit. A remarkable solo debut from this already much-noticed poet". Alan Jenkins, presenting the Michael Marks Award 2012 "The pages of Tierney's pamphlet bring us face-to-face with the papery dead: we are close enough that 'we might / be swapping breath'; we are 'forehead to forehead' with the unliving, whom it seems 'we all have touched.'" Natalie Pollard, London Magazine "To read Roisin Tierney's Dream Endings is to be reminded that sanity and madness, life and death, lie on a continuum and that to embrace both ends is to begin to undo these polarities. Andrew McCulloch, TLS Tierney is at her best when she writes in a way which mirrors a wish made in 'Dream Endings': 'May your ceremony be simple, sincere.'" Declan Ryan, Poetry LondonMore details
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Tierney was born in Dublin in 1963 and studied Psychology and Philosophy at University College Dublin. She moved to London in 1985, where she worked in many areas, from theatrical make-up artist to museum administrator. After several years teaching in Spain (Valladolid and Granada), and Ireland (Dublin) she is now settled in London. Her poetry has appeared in anthologies from Donut Press, Ondt & Gracehoper and Unfold Press. She has been placed in a number of national poetry competitions including the Brendan Kennelly Poetry Competition 2007, the Strokestown Poetry Competition 2006, the Bridport in 2005 and 2002, and the 2001 TLS Poetry Competition.
Content
Contents I Chosen / The Sacred and the Profane / Waters / The Blush /Swanky / Trajectory /Feet /The Only Hue /The Liminal / Invierno / Song / Gone /On Watching Ray Mears' Extreme Survival Guide / Half Mile Down / Hunt / Global / Crush /As is the Arechaeopteryx / Oouf! / The Pact / Untitled / Museum Interview / Nebamun's Servant Rebukes Him / Song of the Temple Maiden / Heloise Learns to Modify Her Desire / Lucid Interval / Dog-Days /Anna / II The Spanish-Italian Border / Learning the Language / Mariposa de Noche / Recipe for the Sky / In an Empty Alcove in the Prado / El Rey de Jamon / The Panzemashorn / Gothic / La Vida Gitana / Cathy / Cult / Stink / London Hospital for Tropical Diseases 2003 / The Suicides / Diogenes Syndrome / Vera / Asylum / Lluvias / MuscaDomestica / Death-Mask /Dream Endings