Aperçus Quarterly 2.1

Eileen Ní ShuilleabhainOn The Third DayI tumble to the starsinto the generosity of nightsoftened winds swirlinvisible rings around me.Sheltered in the darknessmy compass tensescommands me ‘haste!’Napoleon’s soldiersface north.I move out fastclimb higher,grey oceans glimpsedflashing below me.My Horse comes to restunder the Ox Blood mountainsbonfires ablazelight a passage underground.Into the earth I travel.Days. Years.Seem only momentsthe sky above darkensno light abounds.The wireless radiosthe prospect of war.Dawn,a surpriseon the third day.Through an incisionI roll back a carpet of grassthe earth’s trap door.Climbing outI inhale the sweet smell of victory.All fires now extinguishedthe soldiersgone.23