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Best of Irish Poetry 2010
Editor: Matthew Sweeney

Songs of Earth and Light
Barbara Korun poems translated by Theo Dorgan

Done Dating DJs
by Jennifer Minniti-Shippey
Winner, 2008 Fool for Poetry Competition

Richesses: Francophone Songwriter Poets
Edited and translated by Aidan Hayes

Munster Literature Centre

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KNUTE SKINNER

Knute Skinner lives in County Clare. His collection The Other Shoe won the 2004-2005 Pavement Saw Chapbook Award. His most recent book, Fifty Years: Poems 1957-2007, from Salmon Poetry, contains new work collected along with work taken from 13 previous books. A memoir, Help Me to a Getaway, was published by Salmon in March 2010.

How It Ended

Clearing the table, she avoided his eyes.

She moved as quickly as she could

but tried not to look impatient.

“You know I have to see him,” she said.

“You know it’s part of my job.”

He didn’t speak, but she felt

his eyes upon her.

“Don’t touch the dishes,” she said.

“I’ll do them later.”

She had at least managed a meal,

such as it was.

“Well then, I’m off now,” she said

as she wiped her hands on a towel.

“I’ll be home as soon as I can,” she added,

moving to kiss his cheek but then

thinking better of it.

In the hallway she looked in the mirror,

then fussed with her hair,

then opened her purse.

He hadn’t spoken since she told him,

but she said to herself that perhaps

it was just as well.

Then after she found her lipstick,

she saw his face in the mirror,

just a foot or two behind her.

©2012 Knute Skinner

Author Links

Knute Skinner home page

Skinner reading at the White House in Limerick

Skinner's page at Salmon Poetry