Children – a poetry film
The poem ‘Children’ was first published in 1990 when it was written for a volume of poems, Thistledown, produced in aid of UNICEF by the Dedalus Press. Since then ‘Children’ has had a number of incarnations in anthologies and other publications. This new film version, with accompanying music by the author, is something of an […]
Jingle Bells, a version
Christmas is not an easy time for many, particularly those feeling the absence of loved ones. This version of Jingle Bells is for them.
Out of the Blue – a poetry film
Out of the Blue is a poetry film by Irish poet Pat Boran, shot in Baldoyle, Sutton and Howth, Co. Dublin, during Spring/Summer 2022. It remembers all those who, for various reasons and over many centuries, have come to make new lives in this part of Ireland, and whose names and influences are everywhere to […]
Immigrants Open Shops: A Poetry Film
Immigrants Open Shops is a short film about a truth that I missed for many years, until it was pointed out to me by my friend, the Iraqi poet, Sargon Boulus. Contrary to the fears, and often the fear-mongering in some communities, immigration has many benefits: bringing new energy, new talent and new perspectives, and […]
The Inverse Wave: A Poetry Film
The power of lovers to find each other in the world, and, even in hard times, to make the world bearable for each other, is something to celebrate. The Inverse Wave is a poetry film about recording, noise cancellation – oh yes, and love. Poem, music and film by Pat Boran. Entirely made from StoryBlocks […]
Lost and Found: A Poetry Film
First published in 2001 in As the Hand, the Glove, Lost and Found is a poem about waste, sustainability and recycling – and about the gifts given to us by those who came before. It was prompted by my late father’s habit of accumulating all kinds of things, in case they might someday come in […]
A Winter Blessing: A Poetry Film
In an era when the word ‘snowflake’ has become an insult, A Winter Blessing considers our attitudes to openness and vulnerability, while the film also remembers Ukichiro Nakaya, a Japanese nuclear physicist who turned from his original profession in order to study the composition of snow — perhaps a lesson for our time.
On a Wave of Light: A Poetry Film
On a Wave of Light is the result of a ‘Local Live Performance Laois County Council’ commission, for which I’m hugely grateful. Like most of my previous films, it was shot entirely on an iPhone. The music, which I wrote and played (in something of a new departure), was greatly enriched by a generous contribution […]
Building the Ark: A Poetry Film
Building the Ark is the latest in my ongoing series of poetry films, inviting a second look at local landmarks and also, in this case, at received wisdom. This one was shot at the Tree of Life, the extraordinary chainsaw sculpture by Tommy Craggs, to be found just beside St Anne’s Park, in Raheny, Dublin. […]
The Mistake: A Poetry Film
A mistake in childhood may prove to be a lens through which the past is more clearly visible. A poetry film by Pat Boran. With thanks to the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, for its support. THE MISTAKE One power-cut storm night, almost fifty years ago, I set a dancing candle down beside a drape, and […]