Patrick Kavanagh Poems

Patrick Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. His best-known novel is Tarry Flynn, set in the 1930s in Ireland. His work engages with themes like family, home life, and life in Ireland. He died in November 1967 at the age of 63.

A Christmas Childhood

by Patrick Kavanagh

Within ‘A Christmas Childhood’ Kavanagh explores themes of memory, coming of age, and imagination. The poem contains the recollections of

Ascetic

by Patrick Kavanagh

The poem’s title, ‘Ascetic’, is basically the practice of going without, usually this means leading a Spartan lifestyle and avoiding

Canal Bank Walk

by Patrick Kavanagh

‘Canal Bank Walk’ by Patrick Kavanagh is a fourteen-line sonnet that is contained within one block of text. The poem

Epic

by Patrick Kavanagh

‘Epic’ by Patrick Kavanagh is a fourteen-line sonnet that does not follow a pattern of rhyme. This disassociates the text

In Memory of My Mother

by Patrick Kavanagh

Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘In Memory of My Mother’ is a reflection on the happy memories Kavanagh has of his mother after

I do not think of you lying in the wet clay

Of a Monaghan graveyard; I see

You walking down a lane among the poplars

On your way to the station, or happily

Innocence

by Patrick Kavanagh

‘Innocence’ by Patrick Kavanagh is a three-stanza poem that is separated into uneven sets of lines. There are ten lines

Irish Poets Open Your Eyes

by Patrick Kavanagh

In ‘Irish Poets Open Your Eyes’ Kavanagh suggests pursuits which his fellow poets could undertake to keep their writing more accessible to a contemporary audience.

Shancoduff

by Patrick Kavanagh

‘Shancoduff’ by Patrick Kavanagh is a three-stanza poem that is separated into two sets of five lines, and one set

The Hospital

by Patrick Kavanagh

‘The Hospital’ by Patrick Kavanagh is a fourteen-line sonnet that is divided into one set of eight lines and another

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