Wormley

My Wicklow : A well known place of pastoral beauty in mountains and glens, as well as literary significance contrasted with street riots. Ivory Child : Ivory = pale = dead. Body akimbo likened to the Nazi symbol. Underworld : Although there are many unrhymed and free meter McGuiness poems around, nearly all are either the Gaelige originals or translations of McGuiness poems by others. We know of no Gaelige original for this work. It may be the 'American' writing closest in mood and flow to his earlier native poetry. Streets : I suspect that this was a working fragment to be spliced or divided up into 'Cousins'. There are many such examples, in Gaelige, of poem fragments, somewhat modified or attenuated , that on casual reading seem to derive from larger works. Yet, they are more primitive and of lesser mastery than in the larger work. Most students, whose work is aimed at sequential dating, confirm that these lesser pieces are works in progress, perhaps notes or work-ups that escaped. Birds : Obvious metaphor. Rushing river flow as time and fate with poor old Gavin washed along, helpless. But birds are immune to such directionality. They fly up stream or suspend on air streams as they please. That is too easy. Note that McGuiness does not say that birds, per se, alone, can do this. They are examples of beings of 'fitting form'. It is the form that one chooses to assume that determines defiance of fate. Again, one choice. Put this one in the tally.