Biography

My name is James Falconer, 28 years old. I am very new to the poetry scene, although I have always been well able to express myself! I moved to Galway about five years ago, after spending some time overseas. I am originally from County Meath. I am in my final year of an International Arts degree at NUIG. My areas of study are philosophy and history. I love traveling and I’m happiest when I am on the move. I hope to keep writing, performing and “coming back.”

News

by James Falconer

Too much news is demoralising

Why can’t we be left in peace?

Bombarded with Sky News, BBC, RTE, ITV

They’re all much the same, to me.

It’s not by choice

It’s only by chance

In saying that, I choose to glance

But, I’m glad of the awareness

To avoid the trance.

It’s only “news” they say

What’s your problem?

Don’t look away

Sure you have to see what’s going on

In a world, crippled with wrong.

Power and domination

In propaganda fuelled

Administration

Mainstream media mind control

Can take its toll on the human soul

Flags and symbols, Arabic unrest

Are some of the creations

Of the greedy West.

It’s all too much for me to bear

Yet people stop and people stare

Headlines, explosions, flames in the air

Most of the time, I couldn’t care.

Public spaces, colonized

By private interests

Sometimes I don’t know, where to go

To escape the stress

On the run from the media machine

Trying to keep my young mind clean

I’ll get there yet, to the safety net

Have a look inside

With no regret.