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Shortlisted for the Irish Times Poetry Now Award 2008
The Boy in the Ring Poems by DAVE LORDAN
| Paperback | 130 x 204mm | 80 pages | ISBN 978-1-903392-60-7 | June 2007
The Boy in the Ring is the debut collection from a prizewinning author who has already made a considerable reputation through publications and readings. In poems that are provocative, energetic and experimental, though never obscure, The Boy in the Ring explores themes of violence, self-harm and survival, ranging in focus from schoolyard bullying, through adolescent suicide and addiction, to the wars and terrors of the adult world. It is a rousing collection, sometimes comedic, sometimes disturbing, sometimes despondent, sometimes raging, sometimes ecstatic, full of memorable characters and stories that are sure to touch readers' hearts as well as fire their imaginations. Dave Lordan was born in Derby, England, in 1975. He grew up in Clonakilty in West Cork. He took an M.A. in English Literature at University College Cork in 1998 and an M.Phil. in Creative writing at Trinity College Dublin in 2001. In 2004 he was awarded an Arts Council bursary. In 2005 he won the Patrick Kavanagh Award for poetry. His work has been published widely and he is a regular and popular performer of his own work. He is an experienced creative writing teacher and workshop leader. He can be contacted at dlordan@hotmail.com for workshops or readings.
'Heartstopping lines' Mary O’Malley, Irish Examiner
'Compelling poetry...immediately engaging with its vivid language, energy and passion' Theo Dorgan and Paula Meehan, Judges report, Patrick Kavanagh Award 2005
'Roars like an angry staccato of poemfire, reminiscent of old Ginsberg' www.dublinka.com
The Boy in the Ring
Where is the boy? The boy is in the ring. And where is the ring? The ring is in the school-yard. And what makes up the ring? The ring is made of other boys.
What kind is this ring? It is a spinning ring, and a jeering ring a hissing ring a rhyming ring a kicking ring a spitting ring a teeth, tongue and eyelid ring, a hair and eyes ring a snot and nostrils ring, a knee and knuckles ring a fist and boot and mouth and ear and elbow ring.
Who is the god of this ring? The god of the ring is unknown. Jack O the Lantern maybe or the scarecrow with the two axes or a wailing midnight wind or a sack of smashed glass.
What is the boy doing in the ring? The boy is looking at himself in the ring.
He is sitting down and crying and looking at himself in the ring.
Why did the boy go into the ring? The boy never went into the ring.
When will the boy get out of the ring?
"Difficult to get poetry published but Dave perseveres with writing" Article in The Southern Star, County Cork, June 23 2007 . Click here to view
Listen to a Podcast of Dave Lordan's show in Limerick on July the 4th, 2007
Visit Dave Lordan's MySpace page
The Boy in the Ring was launched @ The Winding Stair Bookshop 40 Ormond Quay, Dublin Saturday 30th June, 2007 7.30pm
The Launch Introduction was by novelist Ronan Sheehan
