Say Goodnight to the Taoiseach

by Declan Geraghty

Varadkar is gone
goodbye Varadkar
we wont miss you
you left us so little
yet took so much
then blamed us because we’re poor
when men in suits
destroyed the country
you blamed the ones
in tracksuits and trainers
drawing the dole
while you drew million euro bonuses
Varadkar is gone
in 2024
not 1984
even though it feels like it
although we can’t talk about that
we can’t criticise you
you downgrade the working class to dogs
but we need to rise up with the fleas
your hate speech cuts us down a little more everyday
a bit like the new law you planned
a hypocrite
you’re not missed one bit
Varadkar is gone
Oh praise the lord
Leo Varadkar is gone.

Paseo de los Refugiados Celtas

by Declan Geraghty

Hands calloused
strained
on our knees
we are Celtic refugees
our country long dead
dear citizens of Eire
you matter
we give this complimentary tent with all sincerity
the rain
is coming
hurricane Varadkar
on the horizon
our tents blow
tents we imagine as palaces
my dog a great steed
like Don Quixote de la Mancha
our imagination keeps us from the clutches of insanity
blocking out the shame we feel
shame that wasn’t ours to begin with
the water rises
the tent flails
disappearing
with the sea
we drag ourselves up
to a roofless sky
affordable housing now we shout
hands raised
from goose pimpled arms
our heads bobble in the cold wind
hair sandy blonde
skin pale
eyes blue
capitalism's not working
its intentions obscene
our heads bob
hair sandy blonde
skin pale
north western European
we are Celtic Refugees.

Ireland is a Landlord

by Declan Geraghty

It’s just doors and walls
just a tiny spot of land
just plastic and wood
just tubes and metal
for water and heat
cables for light
a chair to sit down on between the walls
to rest your weary bones
walls to protect from the wind and cold
the roof from rain and elements
and it’s all a trap,
it’s all a set up
they have us on a hamster's wheel
just to have four walls
and a roof from the elements
and it gets heavier
the burden of rent
the pressure
until you can’t afford to eat
or put on the heat
just breathe and wait
in the cold between four walls and a roof
not to mention the floor
although we get walked over as well
and there will come a time
when we all know when
when to stand up
and say no more no more to this madness.