Keeping Promises - Selected Writing Submissions

A selection of creative writing submissions for Keeping Promises - writers inspired by C.S. Lewis

Sunset: Dunluce

On the eleventh night the village is a swan bathed

in chrism. She swims amidst a sea of gold and green.

A bright fire on the beach burns orange incense

against a sky of true blue. Tangerine clouds of glory

cling to the waterline. We imagine these are silver stories

of the cities and islands and hills of a country yet unseen.

Sharon Jones

"The poem is very short but it highlights Lewis's foregrounding of the imagination. It is set in a place he knew and loved; a place I believe he found very inspiring. My recent academic work strongly suggests that Ireland, and especially the North Coast of Ulster was a formative environment for him; one that generated at least some of the wonder and magic of his writing."

Th Wee Late Yin

Hir yins man an baen quairly gunked

Bae th wee late yin.

She made hir ain fun, whar wur hir aine yins?

But she wus nivir hir lane.

Whiles in th loanin aa mooth an een at pyets

Th kerrions, jookin in an oot

Linein their hames wi th creeshy wool

That she darnae touch for fear o ORf,

Wee scahldies pullt sinthery as fotherin fur their aine.

An min’in hirsel for fear o puzhinin

Thon laburnum’s nae freen ava

That’s yin there’d bae mair aboot.

Up th burn efter wee stricklys

Catched in th gless jar hud in th water

Whiles yin wae a ridd belly

Prugh o soarts,

An then, cope him oot an let him tak his chance

Alang wae th rest.

Deedlin alang th dake bakk

Skellyin for bits o broke bowles

Th mare she fun th mare wud fit thgither

Whither or naw.

Yince th muck wus waashd aft

Blue an white or best o aa pink fluuers

A keeper, pit in a roosted tin

Fur anithir time.

Whiles she wud faa but nivir a nyirm

That wus jist th wae for it daes tae min’

It wus ey towl

Them that’s last’ll bae first.

Jackie Morrison

"I love The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In it we see the dichotomy of the children’s wonder at the beauty of Narnia versus their prevailing consciousness of potential danger. I have tried to reflect this in my poem. Like C S Lewis who was true to his roots, I have chosen to preserve the language of Ulster-Scots. This links with our individuality, diversity and ability to perceive life through our own lens."

OFFERING

If I’d known it was my last Monday, I’d have hired the horse,

galloped along Magheragallon’s shoreline, naked as a prayer,

untamed Atlantic spray inciting a crop of unselfconscious goosebumps.

And I’d have offered it all to the wind and the wet and the wild.

If I’d known it was my last Tuesday, I’d have bought the silk scarf,

with soaring swans and waterfalls, I’d pronounced too youthfully colourful

for a crone’s neck—and far too dear.

If I’d known it was my last Wednesday, I’d have bought the exotic perfume

that would only get lost in lonely, lived-in crepe of skin—

no lover’s nose to seek the daub above each breast.

If I’d known it was my last Thursday, I’d have painted the fence

with polka dots and my front door purple, or maybe pink,

with not a thought of what the neighbours might think.

If I’d known it was my last Friday, I’d have bought the flimsy hat

with its wide, floppy brim and rainbow of feathers

set in a silver brooch—that would only let the rain right in.

If I’d known it was my last Saturday, I’d have bought the yellow boots,

patent knee-high platforms, like those I wore a lifetime ago,

instead of extra-wide fitting, triple E, brown slip-on brogues.

On swansong Sunday, they’d come to claim the husk

and find it festooned with frippery.

As they fluster through a fuchsia-painted doorway,

the unsubtle odour of sandalwood oud from Marrakesh

would hit them in the face.

And I’d have offered it all to the wind and the wet and the wild.

Rosaline Callaghan

"CS Lewis's work reflects local landscapes, and painting pictures with words which I aim for in my work. He inspires me to pay attention to detail and write about difficult subjects – to bring dark shadows into the light. He lets me know I am not alone in the grief and regret of loss.

Despite his personal difficulties, CS Lewis's heart did not become hardened. He could love and A Grief Observed is a majestic reflection on his love for Joy."

The Land of Paraplegia

My sister says,

‘I have been going though old papers.

and you know the woman who helps with clearing clutter,

Marie Kondo?

She says if you you come on something

that’s hard to let go,

say thank-you

and then say goodbye.

I came on my husband’s driving license renewal.

I said thank you

for all the years he drove without accident,

for him driving the camper van all round Ireland

on our honeymoon

as I was too young to get insurance,

for driving me to the hospital

every time

for each of our children to be born,

and for the later years

when we shared journeys

home

and he took over half way

and it worked well.

Then I let it go.’

Yvonne Boyle

"While this is about the traumatic loss of mobility of my brother in law, it was influenced by CS Lewis is ‘A Grief Observed’ – the sensitivity and honesty about loss."