David J McDonagh has previously published poetry on-line under the name Joseph Maximilian at www.fanstory.com/joseph_maximilian. He recently completed the on-line creative writing course run by Galway based poet Fred Johnston. His work has been published in the printed version of The Galway Review, Issue 1, Spring 2013. He lives in Tuam, County Galway with his wife Linda and their twin boys Theo and Fionn.
Ice cold at Coole
In the form of ‘Ode to the Virginian Voyage’ by Michael Drayton (1563-1631)
Only you would venture
out in the woods today
to places he once knew
where you pursue
your adventure:
a novice, come to pray.
A compact edition
carried close to your heart,
forsaking a warm fire
(your heart’s desire),
today’s mission
might help you make a start.
Needing inspiration,
you carefully tread
with the aim of finding
some new blinding
revelation;
you get frostbite instead.
Don’t wrestle with the muse:
your turn will come around.
So go back to your fire
(your heart’s desire)
where you can choose
to wait on safer ground.
The Galway Review 