beam is a 26 year old woman from Ireland, a new poet and a recent MA graduate. At the moment beam is working on her first collection after being published on Spilling Hot Cocoa Over Martin Amis. Recent work includes: surviving the pandemic and several disappointing sourdough loaves. You can find more of her poetry @personalbeam on instagram.

I Could Basically Hear You

I was so bad behind your back.

Trying to get over you was basically
a series of women I fucked, 
to get away from myself
because I couldn’t get back to you

I found, inside them were wires
and when I touched 
I could hear the conversations on your phone
I could hear you in their satisfaction as they moan
I could taste you if I didn’t think
and the way you hit the nerve, the brink.

I was so bad behind your back.

Trying to get over you was basically
a series of women 
who I didn’t face 
and couldn’t name
I was embarrassed 
I’d treated you 
much the same.

Necessary Evils

She is the shadow of a bright young girl
Her husband died in every war
The six o’clock dinner was piping hot
At five fifty five

He cannot keep the steam from rising
Her hand was burned on every fire she ever felt
The battle was won
But made widow from wife

There are necessary evils
In an ordinary life.