New Poetry by Jim Conwell

Absence

How many went missing? Most. 

One way or another. We have talked 

of that time but who wants to try and 

imagine the reality? It lives as 

an absence; not spoken of, not even 

known of. An unfillable hole.

There were many holes then

and they were filled, 

with the multiplying dead. 

Mass graves, everyone slung in together. 

Let God sort it out. He chose 

to do nothing about what was killing them, 

so it’s His problem. 

The thought no one dared to entertain, 

so I will entertain it for them.

Outside, it is raining. A bit.

- © Jim Conwell 2023

Jim Conwell’s background is London Irish and the themes of exile and dislocation are strong in his work. He is published widely in magazines and in three anthologies. He has had two poems shortlisted in the Bridport Poetry Prize and was recently longlisted for the Brian Dempsey Memorial Pamphlet Competition.