Honest Ulsterman - Poetry - After the Party by Colin Dardis

June 2026

poetry

After the Party

by Colin Dardis

a chrome-spun balloon

stunned by a hedgerow

caught on brier hands

still holding onto

borrowed breath between

foliole and knickers

once fastened to a letterbox

so townies can find

the right house, now flown

this party balloon

in the shape of a 'f':

perhaps fifty, perhaps firm

perhaps fixed beside

a thorn, threatening

to collapse against the wind

witches’ knickers: a rural phrase for torn plastic caught in trees and shrubs

Colin Dardis

Colin Dardis is the author of ten poetry collections, most recently with the lakes (above/ground press, 2023) and What We Look Like in the Future (Red Wolf Editions, 2023). A neurodivergent poet, editor and sound artist, his work has been published widely throughout Ireland, the UK and USA.

More work by Colin Dardis

Blue Autumn [poetry] Matthew Rice [features] Anne Harris [features] Mr. Ross Thompson [features] Jamie Guiney [features] Study of a Piece of Wood [poetry] Claire Savage [features] Mel McMahon [features] Ruth Carr [features] Jessica Traynor [features] Niamh Boyce [features] Ingrid Casey [features] Rachel Coventry [features] John Moynes [features] Glen Wilson [features] Ross Thompson [features] Gaynor Kane [features] Michael Wilson [features] Geraldine O'Kane [features] Linda McKenna [features] After the Party [poetry] We All Remain Children [features]

Poetry

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Jessamyn Fairfield

Prose

Sideroads
John Siberry

1968 - 2026

Tel: 028 7126 6946
Email: hueditor@theverbal.co

Verbal, Stable Lane and Mall Wall, Bishop Street Within, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6PU