Sexual intercourse in Kildare Workhouse

The grey walls of the grim structure
hard as the granite hearts
that fixed the yoke on the poor.
But even high walls and locked gates
couldn't suppress that pair
who dash-churned in the face of misfortune
through iron bars intended to separate.

Feis chollaí i dTeach na mBocht, Cill Dara

Ballaí liatha an fhoirgnimh dhuairc
mar a gcroíthe eibhir siúd
a dhaingnigh an srathar ar an mbocht.
Ach fiú ballaí arda is geataí faoi ghlas
ní fhéadfaidís an bheirt a chloí
a bhuail an chuigeann in éadan na hainnise
idir ráillí iarainn a scartha.

Na Grása agus Dánta Eile (Coiscéim 1993); Chapman 55-56.