époque press
pronounced: /epƏk/
definition: /time/era/period
They weren’t there
at that moment
or the moments that lead
up to it
they weren’t there
when the air got thick
with that energy
when our words
cut each other
and the jeers
from others
in the background
almost seemed choreographed
like a chorus against me
even the seating was all wrong
like it was all staged
perfectly positioned
if it was chess
it would be an attack
the four knights variation
the Vienna maybe
it was definitely bait
it all looks different on paper
so one dimensional
one sided even
when they said it like that
with those educated voices
you had to be there
in the moment
to understand my perspective
I sound insane now
but at the time
I felt the only sane one there
you can’t judge us
you weren’t there
when the colours
changed
above peoples heads
so many dancing
vibrant
dangerous
colours.
Declan Geraghty is a writer and poet from Dublin. He has previously been featured in the époque press ‘Ecstasy’ themed é-zine and has a short story in Lumpen London Journal issue 11.
He’s had poetry published in Shanghai Poetry Lab, Militant Thistles and the Brown Envelope Book. He has recently won a mentorship with Words Ireland and their national mentoring programme for new writers.
Of the poem featured here, Declan states:
‘Menace is something that we encounter in different forms, it can be violent, psychological or passive aggressive. I think people who commit menacing acts have a complete lack of self awareness, and they themselves portray themselves as victims rather than aggressors. Some people see themselves as the good guys, but in reality they are really the bad ones. In general I believe narcissistic tendencies can turn a person completely blind to everyday social situations and surroundings.
‘This poem is from the perspective of the accused, and not the victim. It is set in a courtroom as they look back on their crime, doing everything to convince themselves that they were in the right. The idea of menace to me is not just one of an aggressive looming presence, but one of narcissism, delusion and stupidity.’