welcome to the bogman’s blog
I turned 50 last summer, and so it was time to look back and take stock. I have had an interesting, varied, challenging life so far, with plenty of ups and downs. One thing that has been with me almost always is poetry. I started writing poetry when I was 12, and I am still writing it. I believe I was born a poet, and I hope I will die a poet. You’ll find a couple of hundred of my poems here, and the one thing they all have in common, no matter how weird or fantastical they might sometimes seem, is that they are all about real people, places, and things. There’s a person, place, event behind every one, and in a way I guess it all adds up to my life story - so far - the so far life story of my perceptions, my imagination, my experiences. In terms of experiences I have been extremely fortunate. My life has been rich - I am tempted to say super-rich - in terms of people, places, and events, and I guess what I am doing here is sharing some of that plenitude. Feel free to read and share. Let me know if you do anything educational or creative with them - people like to make songs out of my poems, for example.
I also love to perform my poetry, and I have read at hundreds of events, ranging from what are called prestigious literary festivals, to house parties at 6 o clock in the morning, and every imagainable venue in between. I much prefer the house parties and raves - a much better class of people at those - but they don’t pay as well! I’m hoping to do lots of readings in 2026, so get in touch if you would like me to perform at your prestigious festival, your barn dance, your barricade, or whatever.
Last night I read a new poem Indie Kids Village Disco at the excellent open Mic in Board (so called because you can play board games there) on Clanbrassil street in Dublin. It’s on there every Thursday from about 7, and they also do good pizza, and a have the city’s best range on non-alcoholic beers. And tmro, 29th of November, I’ll be back in my home town of Clonakilty, to read at the West Cork for Gaza solidarity event- I am really looking forward to that - i will be sharing the stage in O Donavan’s Hotel with Tina Pisco, and the Clonakilty Brass Band, among others.
As well as poetry, you will find my essays, my fiction, and my video archive here. I’ll be blogging regularly about what I am up to and to share my thoughts on books, movies, music, current affairs etc.
Take it aisy
but take it
Dave