
I was driving home to Tramore from Waterford City (8 miles) this morning along a road that is beyond familiar to me and one that is steeped in memories, presentness, and probable tomorrows.
All the years, six abandoned cottages have caught my eye but I jumped to attention in the last few days as there seems to be a lot of ‘clearing’ going on which makes me fear that there will be gaps where once there were places that made me ponder and wonder.
So, I took the time today to stop and take photographs of these reminders of times past.
The fact that it is National Poetry Day was another thought that was very much on my mind and I found myself re-visiting Michael Coady’s poem, Letting Go, which I wrote about a while back.
Here it is again:
Letting Go
I love the abandon of abandoned things the harmonium surrendering in a churchyard in Aherlow, the hearse resigned to nettles behind a pub in Carna, the tin dancehall possessed by convolvulus in Kerry, the living room that hosts a tree in south Kilkenny. I sense a rapture in deserted things washed-out circus posters derelict on gables, lush forgotten sidings of country railway stations, bat droppings profilgate on pew and font and lectern, the wedding dress a dog has nosed from a dustbin. I love the openness of things no longer viable, I sense their shameless slow unbuttoning; the implicit nakedness there for the taking, the surrender to the dance of breaking and creating. (Michael Coady: from 20th Century Irish Poems selected by Michael Longley, 2002, Faber and Faber)
Amazing cottages. I always wonder the history when I see these old places.
Hi CT, yes I think they’re lovely. The closer one gets the quainter they seem and all the more poignant that they should be closed up and going to ruin.
Looks like a nice driving road, i’m not a fan of highway… Great poem, Jean! I’m wondering what happened with the owners of those places, are they dead or are not any longer preocupied?
Dana, it’s a gorgeous road, especially at this time of year when the trees are turning. The lovely thing about it is that it is the road from the oldest city in Ireland to the seaside town where I live ~ with its long sandy beach of 3.5 miles. I couldn’t and wouldn’t ask for more!
It is such a shame that these lovely little cottages are disappearing.
Hi Joan, yes it’s heartbreaking and there are so many of them around the country.
“I sense their shameless slow unbuttoning…” has to be about the most poetic way of describing abandoned places that I have ever heard. I love abandoned buildings, bridges, the remnants of the past lives leaving little bits and pieces of themselves for us to ponder and wonder. Lovely post, and lovely pictures.
That line got me too! Lovely post, pictures and poem.
Thanks Frances. The whole poem seems to haunt me. The tree in the sitting room bit was so apt for one of the cottages.
Suz, thanks for this lovely comment. Michael Coady has the most wonderful way with words.
If they ‘clear’ these houses you will be so glad you took the time today to document their place on this road. lovely poem.
Tric, thanks for writing. It was no big deal to stop and take the photos and, indeed, the closer I got to the cottages, the more the carved their way into my heart.
Well done Jean on capturing the cottages for posterity. That poem is perfect for Ireland – so much abandoned and forgotten. But even in the modern era much of it seems to have been left alone to decay in dignity and leave us wondering.
Thanks Roy. I just hope the gaps don’t happen overnight. It would seem so unnatural.Maybe someone will renovate at least some of them so they get whole new leases of life.
I love abandoned places – so much atmosphere and so many stories to tell, but I hadn’t heard of the poem so thanks for sharing it Jean.
Andrea, so glad you enjoyed the poem. Michael Coady is an Irish poet of considerable renown. He comes from Carrick-on-Suir, which is literally up river from Waterford City ~ next town up ~ to be precise!
Lovely Jean…one or two of those are on my to-do list too…theres something so compelling about old and abandoned houses.
This is beautiful the thoughts the photos. Ideas of what these houses would seen or heard. Yes truly a poetic road. xxx
Thanks Willow. It gets more poetic every time I see it!
I am sure it does!