Nathanael O’Reilly
Nathanael O’Reilly is an Irish-Australian poet residing in Texas. His books include (Un)belonging (Recent Work Press, 2020); BLUE (above/ground press, 2020); Preparations for Departure (UWAP, 2017); Cult (Ginninderra Press, 2016); Distance (Ginninderra Press, 2015); Suburban Exile (Picaro Press, 2011); and Symptoms of Homesickness (Picaro Press, 2010). His poems have appeared in journals & anthologies published in fourteen countries, including Antipodes, Anthropocene, Cordite Poetry Review, The Elevation Review, fourW, Marathon Literary Review, Mascara Literary Review, Rochford Street Review, Skylight 47, Strukturriss and Westerly.
Supermoon
My daughter takes me outside after dark
to observe the strawberry supermoon
three hot nights after the summer solstice.
We hurry to the bottom of our back-
yard searching for the best angle, push out-
door furniture aside, stand together
barefoot on warm patio bricks beside
the BBQ, scan southeast between oak,
crepe myrtle and magnolia until
we are awestruck by brightness, have to look
away for seconds, drop profanities
in amazement, redirect our vision,
watch the halo pulse as reflected light
mesmerizes, unites us in surprise.
Sheila-Na-Gig online 