When you are somewhere strange
and cannot sleep imagine him
your father at the kitchen sink
with all that water filling
the kettle soaking pans
washing dishes washing clothes
setting the dials to their eco
lullabies and if that doesn’t work
imagine her your mother
in the scuttled sitting room books
toys scattered across
the deserted rug flotsam jetsam
treasure in her hands
imagine they come together now
your parents with mugs of hot tea
and time talking in the low voices
of changing tides holding you
the way a harbour holds its boats
Born and bred in Dublin, Aoife Lyall now lives and teaches in the Scottish Highlands. Shortlisted for the Hennessy New Writing Awards 2016 and 2018; her first collection will be published by Bloodaxe Books. She has just given birth to her first son, Peter Lyall as her poem is published in Acumen 94.