Everyday Epiphanies, the second poetry collection from Galway’s Mary Lee, explores the myriad experiences and revelatory moments found in everyday life.
In her work, she explores the aforementioned epiphanies that she finds in nature, social life, church, and community circles.
Aidan Mathews, award-winning poet, novelist and radio producer at RTÉ praised Lee for how her work takes a life of “scars and starlight” to showcase the link between the “sensual creation” and the “embodied human spirit” in different aspects of life.
“Loss and discovery, the lively and the lethal, shadow and suntrap, are always intermingled in these verses. Seepage is everything.
“Our first of Spring is still the English Winter, and the Fall is still a harvest festival. Here, then, are hymns to a hyphenated world, as in Lee’s lovely Nativity poem, ‘Mary’.”
Originally from from a farm on the shores of Lough Corrib, Mary later moved away from Galway, teaching in Roscommon and working in community development in Athlone.
The struggles of those she encountered in her work situations led her to train as a psychotherapist, and to establish Vita House Family Centre, Roscommon, where she was Director of Services for twenty years.
She has always had an interest in poetry, which led to her joining Kevin Higgins’ poetry workshops when she moved back to Galway, a habit she has kept up through the years.
Her work has been widely published nationally and internationally in many journals and anthologies, such as Skylight 47, The Poet’s Quest for God (Anthology, Eyewear Publishing, UK), The Galway Review 4, Crannóg, and many more.
Mary Lee has also seen her work on RTE Radio 1, A Living Word, and her poems have been cited at liturgies and retreats.
Her debut collection, Bloom, was published in November 2016, and is now followed by Everyday Epiphanies, published by Kelsay Books.
Kevin Higgins is hosting a digital launch of the collection for poetry lovers in Galway, which will take place via Zoom on July 23 at 7pm.
To join the launch event that day, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7389013549, Meeting ID: 738 901 3549.
