‘The Collector’ by John Kelly
He first collected random stones
and stored them in a chambered box
in which his father – in his collecting days –
had saved the bones of rabbits and of rats.
Then he took to shiny things
delivered daily by the local crows
and, emptying the chambered box,
he swapped the worthless stones
for fish-hooks, razor blades and glass.
Then wedding rings. The fingers still attached.
From issue #5: autumn/winter 2017
About the Author
John Kelly’s poetry has appeared in The Irish Times, Poetry Ireland Review, Winter Papers, Oxford Magazine and The Well Review. His first collection, Notions, was published by Dedalus Press in 2018. His novel From Out of the City was shortlisted for Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards 2014.
