From the Archives – ‘Boland’ by Aoife Walsh

The powerful words, written by a woman before.
A woman who shaped little girls’ views.
The voice that put my pen on the page.
A woman who made use of her voice.
For one life gone, my ink will run.
Still in our hearts and minds.
For every sentence we shall write.
Still, she now lies.
Eventually we all go away.
Granted that one soul is now gone.
Eventually one will come again; but
Granted, it was taken.
Hero of my world and heart.
You got me to share what I couldn’t say.
Hero, the woman who took the pain away.
You being gone now brings it back.
The reason I write these poems.
A woman I dreamed of meeting.
The writer I wanted to tell my story.
A woman who knew what she wanted to do.
For her, I write this goodbye, my send off.
Still to grieve the loss of one I held so high.
For my muse, the person I want to grow up to be.
Still.
Eventually I will move on and feel better.
Granted, that could be untrue the loss could stay; forever
Eventually it might go, and I won’t cry when I read.
Granted, her work was taken.
Hero, with her own superhero story.
You are my reason, my inspiration.
Hero, like me one day.
You were my reason.

‘Boland’ by Aoife Walsh was originally published in Issue 4, when Aoife was 17.