Her husband and son
share a name — Michael.
As a rule, when she calls
for one, the one she calls
arrives. But sometimes,
the one she calls for
doesn’t come
and in his place stands
the other. Sometimes both
arrive together. Even so,
what irritates her most—
what she’s come to expect—
is when neither shows,
each assuming
the other was called
and not caring to ask.
Michael Naghten Shanks was twice shortlisted for Poem of the Year at the Irish Book Awards; he has had poems longlisted for the National Poetry Competition and The London Magazine Poetry Prize
share a name — Michael.
As a rule, when she calls
for one, the one she calls
arrives. But sometimes,
the one she calls for
doesn’t come
and in his place stands
the other. Sometimes both
arrive together. Even so,
what irritates her most—
what she’s come to expect—
is when neither shows,
each assuming
the other was called
and not caring to ask.
Michael Naghten Shanks was twice shortlisted for Poem of the Year at the Irish Book Awards; he has had poems longlisted for the National Poetry Competition and The London Magazine Poetry Prize
