Poet Patrick Kavanagh Sitting on the Canal

Last week, my friend Ruth graciously agreed to show me her neighborhood, down near Baggot Street, so that I could share with you some of the fun things to explore in that area. We spent a lovely afternoon chatting and walking, and as we walked along the canal, we happened upon the poet Patrick Kavanagh, sitting on his bench. I decided I should look up some of his poetry this week and since it’s a wet day in Dublin, this one seemed appropriate (if a month late).

Wet Evening in April

The birds sang in the wet trees
And I listened to them it was a hundred years from now
And I was dead and someone else was listening to them.
But I was glad I had recorded for him
The melancholy.

Quite melancholy altogether, and not reflective of our day along the canal last weekend, but I do know that feeling. Today is a soggy, soft grey and everything feels slow and fuzzy and a little lower than usual. It’s a wet evening in May and boy am I ready for some real summer sun!

Isn’t that statue great?! Such amazing texture, and the glasses! It’s so lifelike compared to most statues you see. Ruth said sometimes locals put a hat on him or a scarf, depending on the season or the holiday. Like an inanimate neighbor.