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Culture

CALL TO POETRY

As our main streets and our stores across Ireland have come to a standstill over the last few months, artists on social media have been keeping us motivated with quotes slogans and verses. Given our literary history and our incredible line-up of prize winning laureates we have turned to our best-loved writers: James Joyce, Patrick Kavanagh, Eavan Boland and W.B Yeats, to name but a few, for comfort in our hour of need. From Leo Varadkar quoting Seamus Heaney in his speeches, our president Michael D Higgins sharing his poetry to uplift the spirits of the nation to Ireland's graphic and spoken word artists decorating the city with calming slogans. Artists Maser, Emma Blake and Stephen James Smith are using public spaces and the spoken word to get messages of hope out into the world.

IRISH POETRY IN MOTION

While our stores continue to be closed for the health and safety of our customers our windows are still a place to inspire and offer hope. That’s why we have filled them with some of our favourite inspirational verses. If you are not near enough to see our windows, or indeed the amazing art popping up in our cities take a virtual stroll through the best here. Take a deep breath and a moment to let the poetry do its magic.

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The nation has turned to our greatest poets for words of comfort and hope from Eavan Boland, Patrick Kavanagh, Seamus Heaney and Michael D Higgins.

If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere.
Seamus Heaney

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Lines from President Michael D Higgins original poem which he shared to lift the spirits of the nation during the coronavirus crisis, as seen in our Dublin store window.

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Try Poetry, image of graffiti on Newmarket Square, Dublin. Photograph by Harry Warren.

ARTISTS COLLECTIVELY COUNTING THE DAYS

Throughout lockdown, large format artwork in public spaces has brightened up people’s days, from Emma Blake’s brilliant, “We Can Do It” pieces to the street artist Maser who recently decorated the glass front of his studio with the slogan, “I hear Hope calling”. Nearby, two of his pieces have once again struck a chord with the public, even though they’ve been in place for some time. There’s “U are alive” off Camden Street and on the gable of a building: “Don’t be afraid” words inspired by Seamus Heaney's poems.

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Dublin artists Maser (Al Hestor), Emma Blake and Stephen James Smith keeping the faith alive in the city.

Photo credit: Picture of Emma Blake, Karl Davis.

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Our Brown Thomas Dublin windows continue to inspire you with some of Irish literatures most beautiful lines.

ARE YOU A POET AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT?

Have your say! Are you a poet or have you been moved to write some lines. Post some of your pieces to our @officialbrownthomas Instagram account and we will showcase the most moving lines.