In early evening darkness starts
to consume light, sparse leaves
shiver on nervous trees and
the street is zipped into silence.
Behind every door fresh dramas
unfold and, within minutes,
the street creeps with mysterious
life, shrieks of loose recognition,
every child walking in and out
of their dreams, while the timid
ghost in number sixteen
turns off the light,
double-locks the door –
afraid of what he might see.
Maurice Devitt was selected for the Poetry Ireland Introductions Series and shortlisted for the Listowel Poetry Collection Competition in 2016. He won the Trocaire/Poetry Ireland Competition in 2015, he has been placed or shortlisted in many other competitions including the Patrick Kavanagh Award, Over the Edge New Writer Competition, Cuirt New Writing Award and the Doire Press International Chapbook Competition.