Contemporary poetress Mary Guckian from Kiltoghert, Co. Leitrim, was living in Dublin in the mid 1990s. Her literary offerings include "The Eggler," "Fair Day in Carrick," "The Master's Bicycle," "Perfume of the Soil," "Sydney," "The Traveller's Tent," "The Level Shore Walk," "Crossing the Border," "Daddy's Creel," and "Working on the Rate Books" -the latter dedicated to her cousin, John James Guckian.

DADDY'S CREEL

My father spent hours
trimming the edge of the
newly cut sally rods
to make creels for
taking turf over
the soft soil of the
bog to the horse and cart.
On top of the load
packed into the crates
we would burrow a nest
to ensure a little comfort
on the way home as the horse
swayed from side
to side walking up and
down hill with the
heavy load, the sound
of the cart wheels
scrunching along the
pot holed roads.

-- Mary Guckian