Steve Denehan

This is a very short poem that was recently published in the Verseve Stars Anthology.

Thanks for reading. :)

A book to curl up with during the winter months. Beautiful poetry from a beautiful person. :)

You're so good. Thanks, Lawrence. :)

Last week I had a great chat with Ray D'Arcy on RTÉ and read the below poem.

In case anyone would like to have a listen here is the link - www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Thanks for reading. :)

Thanks a million for sharing this, Lawrence (@lawrencemoore.bsky.social) and Louise (@louiseblackwick.com). I really do appreciate it. :)

Steven Denehan’s new poetry collection, a quarter dead and half alive, is a triumphant return from a poet much admired for his gentle, poignant honesty and wry, self-effacing humour. A deeply personal, yet highly relatable work, it draws heavily on Denehan’s own lived experiences as well as those of loved ones, most notably when talking about his daughter’s childhood and his father’s struggles with dementia. Regardless of theme, the consistent clarity of his writing style serves as a welcome mat, inviting us to settle down and make ourselves comfortable within the lines. ‘the other one is me’ Happy to be the butt of his own jokes, Denehan displays a complete absence of self-pride throughout, confessing to various dark thoughts and pessimisms, as if in hope of absolution from the reader.

‘I have gained on him in the years since, while he has moved further and further away’ a quarter dead and half alive assumes the peak of its powers when concerning those the writer holds dear. The emotional rawness in poems like ‘2013, Before Dementia’ is only made more palpable by the obvious tenderness with which it is laced. ‘her eyes, wet fireworks add to the light of a sun that shines through her curls’ Nevertheless, Denehan’s glowing portrayals of an effervescent daughter’s childhood ensure it will not be rawness, but reverence and joy that remain with the reader long after the final page has been turned.

A quarter dead and half alive, a new poetry collection by Steve Denehan, published by Renard Press.

Here's my review of 'a quarter dead and half alive', the new poetry collection by @steverinod.bsky.social, out now with Renard Press.

Some purchase links:

UK amazon.co.uk/dp/1804471607
US amazon.com/dp/1804471607
CA amazon.ca/dp/1804471607
AU amazon.com.au/dp/1804471607

#poems #poetry #books

You are the best! Thanks a billion, Lawrence! :D

There are a whole heap of longer poems but this is another short poem from my new, million selling, smash hit book - A Quarter Dead and Half Alive that was published a few weeks back by Renard Press.

It's about the love my father had for my daughter, even through his dementia.

Thanks for sharing, Lawrence (@lawrencemoore.bsky.social). You are the best. :)

Absolutely thrilled to have poem in Lighthouse Literary Journal. Many, many thanks to editor @julwe1.bsky.social. I really recommend this journal, so many wonderful poems and prose inside. It’s a great read. Thank you 🌸

That's a beaut, Jules! :)

This is a short (yay!) poem from the new book. I've had some very nice messages from people who have read and are reading the book at the moment. Thanks so much to everyone who has picked up a copy or ever took the time to read a poem. It's a huge thing.

Thanks for reading. :)

Thanks a million for sharing, Wendy (@wendybayne.bsky.social) and Jodie (@jangleresse.bsky.social). I really appreciate it. :)

The highest of fives, James. :)

A Quarter Dead and Half Alive – Renard Press A Quarter Dead and Half Alive is a beautifully crafted, wide-ranging collection that lingers on the intersection of humanity and the environment. Foregrounding ageing parents and new family members ar...

Steve's been in every issue of The Madrid Review. We love him and we're not related, unless you count the great big poetry family ❤️ 🙃😆 His new book's out today - have a look! @steverinod.bsky.social ##poetry
renardpress.com/books/a-quar...

High fives, Rod! :D

Thanks a million for sharing, Rod (@rodmannix.bsky.social) / (@writingcommunity.bsky.social) / (@literarybulletin.bsky.social), Lawrence (@lawrence.bsky.social) and Joe (@josephdoconnor.bsky.social). I really appreciate it. :)

Ah, you're so kind, Lawrence. Thank you very much for sharing. I really appreciate it. :)

Thanks so much, Will! :D

This is a poem from the new book (out today from Renard Press!) that was recited beautifully on Phoenix FM last week by Dermot Peele. It can be found at 1 hour 40 here - www.mixcloud.com/925PhoenixFM...

There is also an interview at 10 minutes in if anyone would like to listen.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks a million for sharing this poem, Lawrence (@lawrencemoore.bsky.social) and Joe (@josephoconnor.bsky.social). I really appreciate it. :)

This poem, written from the perspective of a Palestinian person, was published in a special 'Poems For the People of Palestine' edition of The Madrid Review.

It is such a strange time to be alive.

Thanks for reading.

This poem, written earlier this summer, was published in a recent issue of the very snazzy Moss Piglet.

Thanks for reading. :)

This poem, which means a lot to me, is a companion poem to 'A Poem From My Father to My Mother'. It was published in Acumen earlier this year.

It will also be in my next book, 'A Quarter Dead and Half Alive', due from Renard Press on September, 15th.

Thanks for reading. :)

Just a Ride I wish I could believe it otherwise, but life is just a special, one-off treat; if spent on biting nails, reciting fails and fretting, not forgetting fools' advice, you're left with an ordeal and not a ride and no one dresses in their brightest blues and hangs around in endless, screaming queues to suffer an ordeal (Georgina lies), so take my hand in yours and come what may, we'll leave the maps and compasses behind, meander down a random alleyway if suitably attracted by a sound, then when we freshen up and go inside, our hearts can show our heads it's just a ride.

Here's 'Just a Ride'.
Previously published in @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social's The Starbeck Orion

#poem #poems #poetry

This poem, about the dwindling of wonder in the world, was published in an issue of Waffle Fried Magazine in February.

Thanks for reading. :)

You're very kind, Claire. Thank you, sincerely. :)

I'm not sure if the cost of the book has any bearing on royalties and stuff. I don't pay attention to that side of things at all...which is probably/absolutely the wrong approach. :) I just find it amazing that a book full of the stuff in my head is out there somewhere. It's mad! Thanks, Claire. :D

That's something that's hit harder as I've gotten older for some reason. Thanks again, Brett. :)

Wow, I can't believe you ordered it! Thank you very, very much, Claire. I hope you got it when it was on sale. It's gone up a little again for some reason. I have no idea why things often fluctuate on Amazon.

Thanks you so much again. I feel very lucky. :)