September 2017 - Beth McDonough
Beth McDonough
Beth McDonough studied Silversmithing at Glasgow School of Art. Completing an M.Litt in Writing Study and Practice at Dundee, she was Writer in Residence at DCA (2014-16). She reviews for Dundee University Review of the Arts. Handfast (with Ruth Aylett, Mother’s Milk Books, 2016), explored the effect of her son’s autism on the family; Aylett considered her mother’s dementia. McDonough is published in Agenda, Northwords Now, Gutter and elsewhere anthologised widely. She continues to work in an inter-medial way.
A riddle of inexplicable carrying on
Even cabin baggage only, on every flight I freight you. Excess.
Rucksack-stuffed, all rolled clothes in ripping-knicker hurry – no I have
Nothing to Declare, no definitely not Wilde’s genius, nothing – zip.
Yet, we tumble together through security, insecure. I hide you
as I eye-slide tiles, line past, won’t catch either scrutinising stare.
Let’s just endure any serious screenings glassy sentry boxes, grills.
Stay silent. I’ll say nothing of your weight, which I
carry from my country camouflaged as best I can.
I’ll promise not to provoke police, all those officials, before I carry you back.
Unnecessary. Uninvited. I colour up with you. My unallowance.