MICHAEL

James Murphy


The boy who died in 

a motorcycle accident,

removed his helmet 

and came to me

hitting a tennis ball 

over and over in the air.

 

A leather jacket,

tight curled hair I coveted,

in his attention

I was immaculate,

going higher, I said

Michael

I can go higher again.

James Murphy is an Irish writer and visual arts director. ‘Michael’ is from his first collection of work, examining memory, family and loss. He lives and works in Glasgow.