The Aillwee Caves

poetry
Written By D.S. Maolalai

under each spotlight

a stubble of green

eating moisture shone

brightly on black. and rocks

looking fatty as candles

melted in from the roof

to the rubble – it was gross. 

the tour guide explained

that technically anything

growing was contaminant

brought in by not wiping

our feet before entering

under the mountain. 

but isn't it beautiful: 

to see these leaves glisten

over 800 meters from the sun.

D.S. Maolalai

DS Maolalai has been described by one editor as "a cosmopolitan poet" and another as "prolific, bordering on incontinent". His work has nominated twelve times for Best of the Net, ten for the Pushcart and once for the Forward Prize, and has been released in three collections: "Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden" (Encircle Press, 2016), "Sad Havoc Among the Birds" (Turas Press, 2019), and “Noble Rot” (Turas Press, 2022)

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