2021 Highly Commended - Dara Hanley

Dara is a twenty-year-old writer from West Cork. He has been consistently writing creatively for almost ten years now, writing mainly poetry and short stories. Dara has entered several local literary competitions, such as the Allihies Inspires festival, coming first in two categories. He has worked with the Irish writer, Alex Barclay, doing some editorial work. One of Dara's short stories was published in Ireland's Own magazine. 

Below, we feature Dara's evocative entry poem; "The Swimmer".

The Swimmer
​Who is this seal-like creature swimming towards me?
He, half bare, though broad as a man
Seeks love, as do I.
 
To unite is to set free
The suppressed fire of his heart.
His eyes are misted mirrors.
They, glassed colourless crystals, need protection; not exposure.
 
He, a failure, has nothing to lose.
The water knows this.
Its blueness shrouds him
As does the darkness of his past.
 
He, flesh-raw, reaches me: grasping; grappling; staring.
Seeing himself in me
He falls, submerging like a stone beneath the surface,
Swimming away to other golden shores
In the hope of finding himself once more.