Monica’s Overcoat of Flesh
Monica’s Overcoat of Flesh
Geraldine Clarkson
ISBN: 978-1-911027-93-5
eISBN: 978-1-911027-94-2
Copyright © Geraldine Clarkson, 2020.
Cover artwork: ‘Class in Session’ (Charcoal on paper 28 x 40 inches), 2015 © Angela Dufresne. www.angeladufresne.org
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, recorded or mechanical, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Geraldine Clarkson has asserted her right under Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
First published May 2020 by:
Nine Arches Press
Unit 14, Sir Frank Whittle Business Centre,
Great Central Way, Rugby.
CV21 3XH
United Kingdom
Nine Arches Press is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
In memory of Frank, Frances, and Patrick Clarkson
and Matthew
~O~
Listen carefully... and incline the ear of your heart.
—Rule of St Benedict
A human being has so many skins inside, covering
the depths of the heart.
—Meister Eckhart
Should we have stayed at home and thought of here?
—Elizabeth Bishop
Contents
Leonardo and the Birds of Clay
a young woman undressed me and
Leonardo and the Birds of Clay, Enclosed
Nuala, Nuala, Nightwatchman’s Daughter
A Spat between Morning and Evening
The thing about Grace and Laura
