The New North is a landmark anthology of contemporary poetry from Northern Ireland with a wide-ranging introduction that gives the reader valuable historical perspective into political and cultural contexts. A brief selection of classic poems by more established authors introduces the featured poets (born between 1956 and 1975); together they represent the past and the future of poetry in the small but fertile culture. Through descent and pastiche, influence and departure, the younger poets respond to the North's rich poetic tradition, as well as to previous political and social realities, yet reveal that other styles and subjects are equally important in their art. These poets are more likely to be interested in new technology, ecology, Eastern Europe or bilingualism, than in any expected manifestation of 'the Northern Issue' ... It is indeed the poetry of a new North - Chris Agee, from the 'Introduction'. Featuring poetry from Cathal O Searcaigh, Jean Bleakney, Chris Agee, Moyra Donaldson, Gary Allen, Andy White, Matt Kirkham, Geroid Mac Lochlainn, Frank Sewell, Paul Grattan, Sinead Morrissey, Alan Gillis, Leontia Flynn and Nick Laird, as well as classic poems by Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon, Ciaron Carson, Paul Muldoon, Medbh McGuckian and Michael Longley.
Contents Preface Introduction i ii iii iv v Classic Poems Seamus Heaney Bogland Punishment Postscript Derek Mahon In Carrowdore Churchyard A Disused Shed In Co. Wexford Courtyards In Delft Michael Longley The Butchers Petalwort Ceasefire Cathal O Searcaigh Caoineadh Lament Pilleadh An Deorai Triall Exile's Return Will Travel Do Isaac Rosenberg For Isaac Rosenberg Oiche Night I Gceann Mo Thri Bliana A Bhi Me Clabber: The Poet At Three Years Bean An Tsleibhe Mountain Woman Do Jack Kerouac Let's Hit The Road, Jack An Tobar The Well Jean Bleakney In Memoriam The View From Carran West Stargazing For Feminists Always From A Train In Hungary The Fairytale Land Of Um The Poet's Ivy Denaturation Recuperation Deduction Chris Agee Mushrooming Loon Call Port Of Belfast At Bethlehem Nursery Offing First Light Requiem Sebald Alpine Interlude In Prvo Selo Summer Plums Moyra Donaldson Infidelities Out Of The Ordinary Planter '82-'89 The Straw Ulster Says No The Art Of Tying Flies Words from the Other Side Gary Allen Born Again Testament The Cabinet Maker Being On The First Day One Summer Evening The Revival Anniversary Calypso A Disused House on the Ballycowan Road North of Nowhere Andy White The Street Symphony of Napoli Hey Man, There's an Ulster Poet in the Hotel Lobby One The Dictatorship of Rhyme Road to Zilina The Country of Divis Flats Night Falls On Vienna Halle Bread Roll Airborne in Wartime Pale Driver Pipes Over Ardoyne At the Forty Foot, 4 a.m. Yellow Teapot of the World Classic Poems Ciaran Carson Eesti Belfast Confetti The Irish for No Medbh McGuckian Tulips The Flitting On Ballycastle Beach Paul Muldoon Ireland History Hay from Incantata Matt Kirkham The Museum Of Transport The Museum Of Trash The Museum Of The Afterlife The Museum Of Extinct Species A Blue Biro from the Museum of Calligraphy The Museum of Censorship A Museum in Negative John Stone The National Paint Gallery In the Tea Museum The Circular Museum The Chess Museum The Computer Museum Mary's Consequences Gearoid Mac Lochlainn Sruth Stream First Steps First Steps Na Scealaithe The Storytellers The Native Speaker Cainteoir Duchais Teanga Eile Second Tongue Aistriuchain Translations An Maine Gaelach The Irish-Speaking Mynah Patrol Patrol Saturday Night On The Town Oiche Shathairn Sa Chathair Ag Fireadail Ferreting Frank Sewell Not Knowing Where You Stand Triptych Hands Your Pelt Pyjamas Crumlin For Sean O Riordain Paul Grattan Middle from The Municipal Family Revisited Pipe Dream Descartes At Ibrox In Situ A Little Night Music No Second Fry, Cookstown, February 24th 2000 The Seven Rabbie Burns's Bad Faith Come Back Tour Maxim Sinead Morrissey Hazel Goodwin Morrissey Brown Leaving Flensburg Restoration 1. Achill, 1985 2. Juist, 1991 In Belfast The Inheriting Meek February Genetics Lullaby Contrail The Gobi From Air Advice Zero Alan Gillis The Ulster Way Traffic Flow Last Friday Night Deliverance Under The Weather Progress Killynether You'll Never Walk Alone Bob The Builder Is A Dickhead Carnival Morning Emerges Out Of Music Driving Home A Blueprint For Survival Lagan Weir Leontia Flynn Eeps The Miracle of F6/18 Without Me My Dream Mentor Snow Nocturne Without Me A Pause Perl Poem April, 7 p.m. Holland These Days Nick Laird Remaindermen Done The Last Saturday In Ulster A Guide To Modern Warsaw Everyman Light Pollution Leaving the Scene of an Accident Appraisal Use of Spies The Hall of Medium Harmony Biographies Permissions
