Tag Archives: Patrick Mc Loughlin

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: Taking a Break

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

Books pile up around the bed like sandbags. He’d just finished another one about gulags. There were people who’d lost fingers and toes while digging for nothing, with nothing for miles in any direction.

Worse off? No doubt. Still, taking no chances, he pulled the sheets up and cocooned himself.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland and Dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland, where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: A Hundred Thousand Lifetimes

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

The pebble was perfect—smooth, oval, and just the right weight.

Sally picked it up from where it lay nestled snugly and warm among the other stones on the beach. She skimmed it and counted: “Seven, eight, nine… Not bad.”

The pebble sank into the ocean and started over again.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland who dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland, where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: Cowboy Builders

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

The architects studied the plans for the umpteenth time. There was something missing, but what was it?

Gabriel turned the drawings upside down and then Michael turned them sideways. “This won’t work. It will fall apart,” they both agreed.

“Just get on with it,” sighed God. “It’s not that important.”

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland who dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland, where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: Alibi

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

“Where were you on the evening in question?”

Robert stared at the officer. He’d been in his car, waiting and dreaming. He’d been a musician giving a concert in Naples, a mechanic fixing engines in the Sahara, and Superman taking a short trip to Mars.

“I was everywhere,” he replied.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland who dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland, where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: Progress

Artistic, Submissions, ,

Between McSwiggan’s and Burke’s is where Mike stands around waiting idly and endlessly for nothing, smelling of old carpets and looking like he’s been lost in the woods since the fifties.

Seventeen years ago his brother gave him two thousand euro and drove off. A solid base to build on.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland who dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland, where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK Mc LOUGHLIN: The Mind is an Endless Maze

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Walking the cows down the narrow road after milking, I felt protected by their company. The last light held enough reassurance.

While returning alone with the dusk pouring through the branches, the old ruin became the only presence, harbouring contrary spirits, and I ran.

Forty years later, I’m still running.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland and dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: 6:35 A.M. October 5th 2018

Artistic, Poetry, Submissions, Top Stories, ,

A half cup of coffee on the top of the car. Another morning beginning beyond the yard, the hearts, and the heads of most practical men.

A half cig smoked waiting for the head to start. Another drive waiting. The familiar future. That gentle wind that pushes us forever forward.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland and dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland, where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: Stain

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Pulling barbed wire buried in the scrub,
it lightly flicked and nicked the skin.
Found the blueish pulse. Drew the brightest reds.
The colour and size of ladybirds.
And wiping in afterthought onto shirt cloth,
It darkened the sleeve while I carried on.
Alive for a moment, slowly becoming dirt.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland and dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and some day hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: Paralysis

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

Bob was dreaming that he couldn’t sleep but didn’t know he was dreaming, and so, on waking, he imagined he was exhausted yet he wasn’t really awake.

When the beast came, he didn’t know if he’d sunk into its dream or it into his.

When he woke, the beast followed.

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland and dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and some day hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland, where it’s hard to concentrate.

PATRICK MC LOUGHLIN: The Drowning Bucket

Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

A sunny evening drying
plates at the kitchen window.

I see her rambling
from the shed to the door.

Little lives
moving inside her.

I will watch her. Time her
offspring
and make them disappear.

Soon dismissed.
Soon quenched
like a temporary thirst.

But by which one of us first?

Patrick Mc Loughlin is an English Language Teacher in Ireland and dabbles in writing. He also dabbles in painting and music and someday hopes to do more than dabble. He lives in the west of Ireland where it’s hard to concentrate.