Edward Lee’s poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen and Smiths Knoll.  His debut poetry collection “Playing Poohsticks On Ha’Penny Bridge” was published in 2010. He is currently working towards a second collection.
He also makes musical noise under the names Ayahuasca Collective, Lewis Milne, Orson Carroll, Blinded Architect, Lego Figures Fighting, and Pale Blond Boy.
His blog/website can be found at https://edwardmlee.wordpress.com

TO SURVIVE

 Her jewellery seemed
 to hold her together,
 its jangling a music
 she could walk to,
 though it only jangled
 when she moved.
  
 She is hard to see
 amongst it all.
 Harder to know too,
 for anyone willing
 to attempt to know her
 without it, which 
 they never would,
 all that glitter and shine her armour,
 protecting her from the silence
 of the world, protecting her
 from the silence of herself. 

CROWD

 It's lonely here,
 among the crowds gathered
 to hear words
 they don't understand,
 yet still nod agreement to,
 liking how those words sound
 coming out of the clown
 they carried on their shoulders
 to the glass soapbox
 that hasn't been cleaned
 in years, its stains like bruises
 upon delicate skin. 

WORSHIP

 We dig in the dirt
 and worship
 what we find, yet 
 ignore ourselves,
 though we are born 
 of the same earth
 and equally worthy
 of the same worship
 we bestow upon 
 the perceived beauty
 we find in the dirt,
 our hands cleaned
 before we touch it again.