‘The Metropolitan Museum of Art’ by John Kelly

for Evie at fifteen

There’s a room in New York City,
and to stand on its threshold
is like entering Heaven –
or at least as Heaven was once explained to me –
loved ones gathered, old friends beaming,
all tippy-toed in welcome –
as excited by your sudden arrival
as you are yourself.

Or maybe –
just to leave Heaven out of it for now –
it’s like a surprise birthday party
and everyone is overwhelmingly there –
all your treasured ones assembled –
some you haven’t seen in years,
glimpsed already
in the corner of your eye.

Anyhow, I can tell you exactly where it is
and how to get there –
by subway, bus or yellow cab.
Or better still, on foot –
the scenic route through Central Park.
I can draw a map and tell you what’s in store.
But more and more, my darling girl,
I can only leave you to the door.

From issue #5: autumn/winter 2017

About the Author
John Kelly’s poetry has appeared in The Irish Press, The Irish Times, Poetry Ireland Review, The Irish Review, Winter Papers, Oxford Magazine and several anthologies. A novel From Out of the City was shortlisted for Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards 2014. A radio play The Pipes was broadcast by RTE.