Inspired by Bashõ’s haiku about the old pond.

Celebrating Poetry Day Ireland, 2023, a Poetry Ireland initiative. Supported by South Dublin County Libraries. This poem was read at a Platform One Writers event, organised by Eileen Casey in Tallaght Library on 27 April 2023.

© Orla Grant-Donoghue 2023

It takes a second
for a stone to connect
with the glassy surface,
angled by the thrower
to skim still water
where ripples echo
concentric circles
to infinity.

It takes a second
to throw away
once treasured memories,
or to stand beneath a tree
as cherry blossom confetti falls.

It takes a second
to alter the ripple,
buy time
for butterflies and bees,
so when the earth, moon and sun align,
spring tides will crash
waves of future sands,
carrying new beaches
ashore.

It just takes a second
to make a change.