We're delighted to present our Poem Of The Day, presented in association with Poetry Ireland.
Today's poem is A Winged Thing, by musician and broadcaster Ruth Smith.
Below, Ruth introduces A Winged Thing.
I wrote this poem in May 2013 when I was at my lowest point in life.
I thought of it again recently and was comforted to remember that the pain did move and joy flooded in, that there's medicine in stillness and so much healing in nature.
A Winged Thing
The mayfly is busy
living her whole life today
I have it easy in comparison
an infinite timetable
of to-dos
into all of my tomorrows
I sit
in this idyllic place
privy to the intimate schedule of the
seasonal commute
She spins and dips, flicking her tail
in the face of my inertia
Torn between whether to eat out
or make an omelette from
what's left in the fridge
I drive the to the nearest supermarket
Between the dairy and cereal section
I sink
my best before date manifest
I'm forced to capitulate to time
to live full bodied in every today
by an ephemeral winged thing
