Patrick Doyle grew up on a farm in Kilkenny. His work has appeared in Skylight 47, Revival, and Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet. He was twice the winner of the ‘From the Well’ Short Story Competition and runner-up in the Leslie Boland.
He has performed at festivals all over Ireland, including West Cork Literary Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival and Cork International Short Story Festival.
He lives in Kinsale and is working towards a first collection.

The Wedding

It is only when the band has ceased
playing and the last guest has left
that you finally reveal yourself
You in whose presence alone
I find rest and repose
You in whom all things abide

You take my hand
and walk me to your room
The lights are low and when you step
out of your dress and fall
naked on the bed the sky gasps
and the moon and stars lean closer

You roll over and slowly sit up
arching your back
so that your long hair cascades
behind you and your breasts rise up
holy mountains with cairns
crowning their summit

Your eyes are wells of wisdom
your long legs peninsulas
reaching out to guide me into your harbour
inviting me to come play
as God played
before the making of the world

I gaze at you until
your beauty becomes my own
then I kneel before you
place my lips to the rim
of your chalice and drink
the ambrosia of your being

As you fall back groaning
I climb upon you
delve deep into your mystery
the soft flesh of your love embracing
me wholly as I become all flame
a god inscribing visions
on the moist walls of your cave