Ogma's Chisel

by Patrick Thompson

Ogma is the Irish god of eloquence and poetry. According to legend, he created Ogham, a mysterious Celtic alphabet that was in use before the 10th century. Ogham inscriptions were often chiseled onto the edges of stone monuments by Celts of long ago. Some of these stones have been found, with Ogham etchings still legible, scattered throughout the present day British Isles.

Ogham connects with this poetry collection in three ways. Like the poems in this book, Ogham messages are simple. Just as Ogham etchings were chiseled onto Celtic monuments, these poems were metaphorically chiseled down to their bare essentials. Ogham has an aura of obscurity, as if it holds a reservoir of vast knowledge hidden within its simple structure. In comparison, these minimalist poems contain hidden impressions that require several slow, contemplative readings before they are revealed.

Ogma’s Chisel is a title meant as a three way link between this poetry collection, Ogma the Irish god of poetry, and the art of Ogham.

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2016