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One of my favorite images from Ní Chuilleanáin’s poetry is the memorable image of ‘The back making itself a roof, The legs a bridge,the hands A crane and a cradle’ from Fireman’s Lift. The poem is full of fantastical, imaginative imagery which poetically conveys her mother’s death as a beautiful, spiritual descent to the place beyond the clouds. This image suggests to co-operation of the nurses to bring her safely from this world to the next. In my opinion, Ní Chuilleanáin stresses the physicality of seeing her mother being supported by the nurses when she was ill .The ‘bridge’ symbolizes this support and the vitality of the nurses’ care for her mother. Maybe the poet copares the nurses to a ‘bridge’ as she imagines them connecting the borders between the living realm and that of the unknown realm past ‘the edge of the cloud’ . The poet cleverly uses literacy devices to compell the stark image of her mother’s death further. The alliteration of the ‘crane’ and the ‘cradle’ highlights the juxtaposition between the image of strenius lifting and gentle cradling; the contrast of practicality and emotional support. This magical image displays the love and care of the nurses towards the poets mother in the time before her death. I think it can be said that the poet valued greatly the efforts of the nurses she meaningfully describes in this poem. This is one of the many images in Fireman’s Lift that manages to paint a comforting, naturally innocent picture surrounding her mother’s death.

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One of my favourite images from Ní Chuilleanáin’s poetry is the thought provoking image of a cumulus cloud in a perfect sky from “The Bend in the Road”. “Piled high, wrapped lightly, like the one cumulus cloud in a perfect sky”, This image was very memorable to me as It portrayed a meaningful image to the poet. Here the poet is comparing the weight of loss in family members as gentle as a cloud, Ní Chuilleanáin is conveying that loss is like a cloud, a persistant experience that never leaves us . This image is also fascinating and intriguing to her as her late sister used to wear a thick white fluffy dressing gown, the poet therefore refers to her being like a cloud. The image is very inspiring to us as its shines hope on us and that the loss of people can no longer be a morbid subject, but a thoughtful and peaceful image instead. Its gives us, the reader an insight into how much the loss of family has affected her throughout her life and how seeing one thing such as a cumulus cloud reminds the poet that her losses are all safe in heavan. We understand when reading this poem that everyone deals with loss in different ways but somehow we will always find comfort and closure.

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One of my favourite images from Ní Chuilleannáin’s poetry is in the opening stanza of the poem “Fireman’s Lift”. The opening stanza conveys a vivid image of the inside of the Cathedral of Parma.

“Through the big tree of the cupola where the church splits wide open to admit celestial choirs, the fall out of brightness”. Here the poet creates a vibrant image to describe the painting and it appears to me that she is comparing her mother dying to the scene depicted in the painting, which is a beautifully aesthetic comparison. This image is very memorable as it not only appeals to our sense of sight but also to our sense of hearing. The poet creates an aural image when she writes “celestial choirs”. In my opinion, she makes the beauty of the painting clear to us in order to enable us to capture the essence of what a special experience it was for her. This image is full of light and brightness. The light is shown as a “fall-out of brightness”, this is a very vibrant description that shows the intensity of the light. She says the ceiling of the dome “splits wide open”. It’s as if the cupola has somehow been retracted to “admit” this incredible brightness. It is obvious that the poet successfully compares the passing on of her mother to the painting she seen. Although death is a sad and depressing situation, the poet explores it in a beautiful and positive way. The deeper meaning of this poem encourages us as readers to have a positive attitude to life.

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My favourite image from one of Ni Chuilleanain's poem's is 'Over twelve years it has become the place where you were sick one day on the way to the lake' at the beginning of stanza two of 'The Bend in the Road'. This is the first time the poet came emotionally involved in the poem This line gave me the impression that she felt quite nostalgic arriving back to the old house that she had not seen for twelve years. She pulled over at the side of the road to wait for her son to get better as he was feeling car sick. I think that coming back to this place reminded her of her family as it held so many memories of her and them. Some of them good ones and some bad ones but memories nevertheless and quite important memories at that.

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My favourite image from one of Ní Chuilleanáins poems is the stark and stimulating image of the speaker in ‘Lucina Schynning in Silence of the Night’, washing themselves in a purifying and ritualistic way.
“I washed in cold water; it was orange, channelled down bogs/ dipped between cresses”.

I picked this image as my favourite because I feel that it really brings the poem to life in a thought provoking and dreamy way, as you can easily imagine the sensation of the cold water on your skin as you read over these lines.

As well as that I feel as if to some people the fact that the water “was orange, channelled down bogs / dipped between cresses” would represent a kind of murky and dirty type of water, to me it represents the opposite of that, and shows us how the speaker is at one with all the elements of the earth and of nature as he or she is cleansing in the purifying water.

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My favourite image from any of Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin's poems is from "Fireman's Lift". The poem is an exploration of the similarities between a fresco depicting the ascension of the Virgin Mary and the passing of Eiléan's mother. This is clearly displayed in one line in the second stanza. The poet describes how "Teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her," This a poignant description of the mother's final days before her death.
The teams of angelic arms supporting her are friends and family, making her final days comfortable and surrounded in love. The angelic imagery also emphasises the love Eiléan had for her mother, and how supportive and honest a person she was in her eyes. The large teams of people let us know that there were a lot of people who cherished her mother also, and that were willing to comfort her at this difficult time.

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I have chosen the image "When you look out across the same field and you both see the same star" from the poem 'To Niall Woods and Xenya Ostrovskaia, married in Dublin on the 9th of December' as my favourite image as I found the image both magical and meticulously crafted. This image signifies how the love between Niall and Xenya was fated. The star signals the two individuals to embark on their own  adventurous journeys, which will eventually lead them to each other. The couple has received a signal from heaven, instigating time is right to commence with their lifelong journey together. Here, love is portrayed as a reward, for those who adventure and persevere.

The opening lines of the poem depict that love is something magical. This depiction is supported by the enchanting landscape of the poem. The poet makes continuous references to mythical stories and fairy tales alluded to showcase loyalty, integrity, and honesty in their core. Ní Chuilleanáin observes such qualities in her son's relationship and compares it to a fairy tale in an indirect fashion, indicating her aspirations for their 'happily ever after'.

It may also be interpreted that 'the same star' refers to the couples similar outlooks on life. When the couple 'look out across the fields' into their future, they both have the same ambitions and aspirations for life, they both see 'the same star'.

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I have choosen the image "like my father runing from a lorry load of soldiers" from the poem On lacking the killer insticnt. I have choosen this image because it is a clear vivid image of how outnumbered her father was running from the soldiers. It creates a suspense as we wonder is her father gonna get away from the soldiers or not.

This image appeals to me as it is easy to imagine. The poets father is just like the hare in the poem. He is innocent and their knowledge of the countryside saves both of their lifes.

As her father is running for his life you sould think that he would be scared of the consequences if the caught him . He could of been beaten , arrested or shot. Yet he described how he felt happiness and delight as he ran dextrously around the sharp corners with his pursuers closing in behind him. " such gladness,he said, cornering in the narrow road". These lines remind us that many people never feel more alive than when they are facing death.

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My favorite image from this poet's poetry is from 'On Lacking the Killer Instinct'. In this poem, the poet talks about two very similar incidents,  her father trying to escape a crowd of soldiers and a hare trying to escape a pack of hounds.

In the first stanza, the poet quotes that "Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross, while the hare shoots off to the left". This image appeals to me as it highlights a clear contrast between both the animals. The hounds are clumsy, vulgar beasts while the hare is a nimble and agile creature. The hare is in control of the situation as its agility helps her escape the beasts.

From this line, we can imagine the hounds falling over one another in a tangle of limbs while the hare bolts away for cover. She describes the dogs as 'absurdly gross', ridiculously over sized and bulky, emphasizing how clumsy they seem in contrast to the compact and nimble hare.

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The image I have chosen is from Ní Chuilleanáin's poem "Fireman's Lift". The image is off the Virgin Mary descending into heaven "The Virgin was spiralling to heaven". This image appeals to me as frantic verbs and inspiring references to light, help to create a magical and graceful image in my mind and one which leaves a memorable image in my mind.

Before the Virgin descended to heaven the light is described as a "fall-out of brightness" suggesting the intense and shimmering waves of illumination that seem to drift downwards and outwards from heaven at the painting's core. The poet uses frantic verbs to give us the idea that the ceiling of the dome is opening, awaiting the Virgin's descent.

The use of frantic verbs and references to light, help to make this image musical and memorable.

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My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin’s poetry is from one of her poems called “On Lacking the Killer Instinct”. Here Ní Chuilleanáin describes the image of a hare getting chased by two greyhounds. The poet describes the greyhounds as foolishly clumsy and unnaturally heavy creatures “Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross. On the other hand, the poet portrays the hare as agile, fast, quick thinking and powerful, “While the hare shoots off to the left, Full of not only speed and fear, But surely in the moment of glad power” The poet’s sympathy for and empathy with the hare is clear; she refers to it as ‘she’ although she can’t possibly know its gender.

The adrenaline rush that the hare feels is interestingly similar to another chase. One where her father is getting chased by a “lorry load of soldiers”. I think that the poet cleverly links up her father’s story with the story of the hare, two totally different stories that share one key valve, they showed that cleverness and quick-thinking can allow a seemingly weak prey to elude a stronger predator, whose situation appeared unfair and unequal.

The poet uses countless verbs and remarkable alliteration to vividly describe the extreme energy and movement required for the hare to avoid capture by the two grotesque greyhounds. I think that the contrast between the hare and the greyhounds really alludes us to believe that no matter what the situation is, when the adrenal and blood gets pumping and with a little bit of quick thinking you can get out of almost any problem.

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My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin's poetry is an image in "Lucina Schynning in the Silence of the Nicht". It is the image if the speaker sleeping safely in the ruin. "I slept safely. Sheep stared at me when I woke" It allows the reader to feel the sense of ease and comfort she felt as " sheep stared at me when I woke." These sheep represent how comfortable she felt in their benign presence. It brings it home to the reader that nature is all around us. This is particularly the case for the speaker of the poem, as she "slept safely" in a ruin, where "bats flew". This image is one of serenity that reinforces the poet's sense of security in this deserted ruin. This image really allows the reader to understand what the speaker was going through at this time, and also strengthens the theme of nature, by exploring the redemptive powers if nature.

Her use of sibillancein these two line emphasises the Silence and harmony that was experienced by the poet. This in turn allows us to imagine what the poet had been experiencing prior to this, the emotional turmoil that drove her from her home to this place of refuge in the wild. This poem allows me to see thedifferencesin how people cope with difficult times in life. For Ní Chuilleannáin this was running away. This image enables me to understand the peace and relief that this experience must have brought her.

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I really admire t

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I have chosen the image “Past mist and shining, teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her” from Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem “Fireman's Lift”. This is vivid and mystical imagery, which showcases the strength and comforting traits of the angels. The innovative construct of this line in the poem showcases Ní Chuilleanáin’s skills as a poet. The rich descriptions in this line give the reader a more detailed image of the picture the poet is trying to convey. In my opinion this line sounds whimsical and dreamy. This line is full of light and movement due to the rich description and movement verbs which bring life to this line in the poem. I think that this line represents the poem very well as it is filled with movement, support and has a heavenly description. The line shows how imaginative and memorable Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem is. The line is a vibrant poetic representation of Ní Chuilleanáin’s mother’s spiritual ascent to the place beyond the clouds. I feel that this line has the graceful and peaceful ambience that the poet was trying to convey through the poem. The poet describes how the angels aided her mothers graceful ascent to heaven and fills the poem with a graceful image of death. The ‘angels’ who were “heaving, supporting, crowding” the poet’s mother could be also be representing the nurses who had been helping and supporting her mother before she passed away, the innovative imagery in this line showcases that her mother wasn’t alone and had people who supported and guided her, before and after death.

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how much the loss of family has affected her throughout her life and how seeing one thing such as a cumulus cloud reminds the poet that her losses are all safe in heavan. We understand when reading this poem that everyone deals with loss in different ways but somehow we will always find comfort and closure. 

Precious
Precious 
One of my favourite images from Ní Chuilleannáin’s poetry is in the opening stanza of the poem “Fireman’s Lift”. The opening stanza conveys a vivid image of the inside of the Cathedral of Parma. 
“Through the big tree of the cupola where the church splits wide open to admit celestial choirs, the fall out of brightness”. Here the poet creates a vibrant image to describe the painting and it appears to me that she is comparing her mother dying to the scene depicted in the painting, which is a beautifully aesthetic comparison. This image is very memorable as it not only appeals to our sense of sight but also to our sense of hearing. The poet creates an aural image when she writes “celestial choirs”. In my opinion, she makes the beauty of the painting clear to us in order to enable us to capture the essence of what a special experience it was for her. This image is full of light and brightness. The light is shown as a “fall-out of brightness”, this is a very vibrant description that shows the intensity of the light. She says the ceiling of the dome “splits wide open”. It’s as if the cupola has somehow been retracted to “admit” this incredible brightness. It is obvious that the poet successfully compares the passing on of her mother to the painting she seen. Although death is a sad and depressing situation, the poet explores it in a beautiful and positive way. The deeper meaning of this poem encourages us as readers to have a positive attitude to life.

Jamie
Jamie
My favourite image from one of Ni Chuilleanain's poem's is 'Over twelve years it has become the place where you were sick one day on the way to the lake' at the beginning of stanza two of 'The Bend in the Road'. This is the first time the poet came emotionally involved in the poem This line gave me the impression that she felt quite nostalgic arriving back to the old house that she had not seen for twelve years. She pulled over at the side of the road to wait for her son to get better as he was feeling car sick. I think that coming back to this place reminded her of her family as it held so many memories of her and them. Some of them good ones and some bad ones but memories nevertheless and quite important memories at that. 
Michael-James
Michael-James
 My favourite image from one of Ní Chuilleanáins poems is the stark and stimulating image of the speaker in ‘Lucina Schynning in Silence of the Night’, washing themselves in a purifying and ritualistic way.
 “I washed in cold water; it was orange, channelled down bogs/ dipped between cresses”.

 I picked this image as my favourite because I feel that it really brings the poem to life in a thought provoking and dreamy way, as you can easily imagine the sensation of the cold water on your skin as you read over these lines.

 As well as that I feel as if to some people the fact that the water “was orange, channelled down bogs / dipped between cresses” would represent a kind of murky and dirty type of water, to me it represents the opposite of that, and shows us how the speaker is at one with all the elements of the earth and of nature as he or she is cleansing in the purifying water.

Stuart
Stuart
My favourite image from any of Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin's poems is from "Fireman's Lift". The poem is an exploration of the similarities between a fresco depicting the ascension of the Virgin Mary and the passing of Eiléan's mother. This is clearly displayed in one line in the second stanza. The poet describes how "Teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her," This a poignant description of the mother's final days before her death. 
The teams of angelic arms supporting her are friends and family, making her final days comfortable and surrounded in love. The angelic imagery also emphasises the love Eiléan had for her mother, and how supportive and honest a person she was in her eyes. The large teams of people let us know that there were a lot of people who cherished her mother also, and that were willing to comfort her at this difficult time.

Erika
Erika
I have chosen the image "When you look out across the same field and you both see the same star" from the poem 'To Niall Woods and Xenya Ostrovskaia, married in Dublin on the 9th of December' as my favourite image as I found the image both magical and meticulously crafted. This image signifies how the love between Niall and Xenya was fated. The star signals the two individuals to embark on their own  adventurous journeys, which will eventually lead them to each other. The couple has received a signal from heaven, instigating time is right to commence with their lifelong journey together. Here, love is portrayed as a reward, for those who adventure and persevere.

 The opening lines of the poem depict that love is something magical. This depiction is supported by the enchanting landscape of the poem. The poet makes continuous references to mythical stories and fairy tales alluded to showcase loyalty, integrity, and honesty in their core. Ní Chuilleanáin observes such qualities in her son's relationship and compares it to a fairy tale in an indirect fashion, indicating her aspirations for their 'happily ever after'.

It may also be interpreted that 'the same star' refers to the couples similar outlooks on life. When the couple 'look out across the fields' into their future, they both have the same ambitions and aspirations for life, they both see 'the same star'. 

Andrew
Andrew
I have choosen the image "like my father runing from a lorry load of soldiers" from the poem On lacking the killer insticnt. I have choosen this image because it is a clear vivid image of how outnumbered her father was running from the soldiers. It creates a suspense as we wonder is her father gonna get away from the soldiers or not. 

This image appeals to me as it is easy to imagine. The poets father is just like the hare in the poem. He is innocent and their knowledge of the countryside saves both of their lifes. 

As her father is running for his life you sould think that he would be scared of the consequences if the caught him . He could of been beaten , arrested or shot. Yet he described how he felt happiness and delight as he ran dextrously around the sharp corners with his pursuers closing in behind him. " such gladness,he said, cornering in the narrow road". These lines remind us that many people never feel more alive than when they are facing death. 
Melvin
Melvin
My favorite image from this poet's poetry is from 'On Lacking the Killer Instinct'. In this poem, the poet talks about two very similar incidents,  her father trying to escape a crowd of soldiers and a hare trying to escape a pack of hounds.

 In the first stanza, the poet quotes that "Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross, while the hare shoots off to the left". This image appeals to me as it highlights a clear contrast between both the animals. The hounds are clumsy, vulgar beasts while the hare is a nimble and agile creature. The hare is in control of the situation as its agility helps her escape the beasts.

From this line, we can imagine the hounds falling over one another in a tangle of limbs while the hare bolts away for cover. She describes the dogs as 'absurdly gross', ridiculously over sized and bulky, emphasizing how clumsy they seem in contrast to the compact and nimble hare.  


Megan
Megan
The image I have chosen is from Ní Chuilleanáin's poem "Fireman's Lift". The image is off the Virgin Mary descending into heaven "The Virgin was spiralling to heaven". This image appeals to me as frantic verbs and inspiring references to light, help to create a magical and graceful image in my mind and one which leaves a memorable image in my mind. 

Before the Virgin descended to heaven the light is described as a "fall-out of brightness" suggesting the intense and shimmering waves of illumination that seem to drift downwards and outwards from heaven at the painting's core. The poet uses frantic verbs to give us the idea that the ceiling of the dome is opening, awaiting the Virgin's descent.

The use of frantic verbs and references to light, help to make this image musical and memorable. 




Barry
Barry
My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin’s poetry is from one of her poems called “On Lacking the Killer Instinct”. Here Ní Chuilleanáin describes the image of a hare getting chased by two greyhounds. The poet describes the greyhounds as foolishly clumsy and unnaturally heavy creatures “Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross. On the other hand, the poet portrays the hare as agile, fast, quick thinking and powerful, “While the hare shoots off to the left, Full of not only speed and fear, But surely in the moment of glad power” The poet’s sympathy for and empathy with the hare is clear; she refers to it as ‘she’ although she can’t possibly know its gender.

The adrenaline rush that the hare feels is interestingly similar to another chase. One where her father is getting chased by a “lorry load of soldiers”. I think that the poet cleverly links up her father’s story with the story of the hare, two totally different stories that share one key valve, they showed that cleverness and quick-thinking can allow a seemingly weak prey to elude a stronger predator, whose situation appeared unfair and unequal.

The poet uses countless verbs and remarkable alliteration to vividly describe the extreme energy and movement required for the hare to avoid capture by the two grotesque greyhounds. I think that the contrast between the hare and the greyhounds really alludes us to believe that no matter what the situation is, when the adrenal and blood gets pumping and with a little bit of quick thinking you can get out of almost any problem.

Rachel
Rachel
My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin's poetry is an image in "Lucina Schynning in the Silence of the Nicht". It is the image if the speaker sleeping safely in the ruin. "I slept safely. Sheep stared at me when I woke" It allows the reader to feel the sense of ease and comfort she felt as " sheep stared at me when I woke." These sheep represent how comfortable she felt in their benign presence. It brings it home to the reader that nature is all around us. This is particularly the case for the speaker of the poem, as she "slept safely" in a ruin, where "bats flew". This image is one of serenity that reinforces the poet's sense of security in this deserted ruin. This image really allows the reader to understand what the speaker was going through at this time, and also strengthens the theme of nature, by exploring the redemptive powers if nature. 
 
 Her use of sibillancein these two line emphasises the Silence and harmony that was experienced by the poet. This in turn allows us to imagine what the poet had been experiencing prior to this, the emotional turmoil that drove her from her home to this place of refuge in the wild. This poem allows me to see thedifferencesin how people cope with difficult times in life. For Ní Chuilleannáin this was running away. This image enables me to understand the peace and relief that this experience must have brought her.
 
 
Hannah
Hannah
I really admire t
Hannah
Hannah
I have chosen the image “Past mist and shining, teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her” from Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem “Fireman's Lift”. This is vivid and mystical imagery, which showcases the strength and comforting traits of the angels. The innovative construct of this line in the poem showcases Ní Chuilleanáin’s skills as a poet. The rich descriptions in this line give the reader a more detailed image of the picture the poet is trying to convey. In my opinion this line sounds whimsical and dreamy. This line is full of light and movement due to the rich description and movement verbs which bring life to this line in the poem. I think that this line represents the poem very well as it is filled with movement, support and has a heavenly description. The line shows how imaginative and memorable Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem is. The line is a vibrant poetic representation of Ní Chuilleanáin’s mother’s spiritual ascent to the place beyond the clouds. I feel that this line has the graceful and peaceful ambience that the poet was trying to convey through the poem. The poet describes how the angels aided her mothers graceful ascent to heaven and fills the poem with a graceful image of death. The ‘angels’ who were “heaving, supporting, crowding” the poet’s mother could be also be representing the nurses who had been helping and supporting her mother before she passed away, the innovative imagery in this line showcases that her mother wasn’t alone and had people who supported and guided her, before and after death.

add

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how much the loss of family has affected her throughout her life and how seeing one thing such as a cumulus cloud reminds the poet that her losses are all safe in heavan. We understand when reading this poem that everyone deals with loss in different ways but somehow we will always find comfort and closure. 

Precious
Precious 
One of my favourite images from Ní Chuilleannáin’s poetry is in the opening stanza of the poem “Fireman’s Lift”. The opening stanza conveys a vivid image of the inside of the Cathedral of Parma. 
“Through the big tree of the cupola where the church splits wide open to admit celestial choirs, the fall out of brightness”. Here the poet creates a vibrant image to describe the painting and it appears to me that she is comparing her mother dying to the scene depicted in the painting, which is a beautifully aesthetic comparison. This image is very memorable as it not only appeals to our sense of sight but also to our sense of hearing. The poet creates an aural image when she writes “celestial choirs”. In my opinion, she makes the beauty of the painting clear to us in order to enable us to capture the essence of what a special experience it was for her. This image is full of light and brightness. The light is shown as a “fall-out of brightness”, this is a very vibrant description that shows the intensity of the light. She says the ceiling of the dome “splits wide open”. It’s as if the cupola has somehow been retracted to “admit” this incredible brightness. It is obvious that the poet successfully compares the passing on of her mother to the painting she seen. Although death is a sad and depressing situation, the poet explores it in a beautiful and positive way. The deeper meaning of this poem encourages us as readers to have a positive attitude to life.

Jamie
Jamie
My favourite image from one of Ni Chuilleanain's poem's is 'Over twelve years it has become the place where you were sick one day on the way to the lake' at the beginning of stanza two of 'The Bend in the Road'. This is the first time the poet came emotionally involved in the poem This line gave me the impression that she felt quite nostalgic arriving back to the old house that she had not seen for twelve years. She pulled over at the side of the road to wait for her son to get better as he was feeling car sick. I think that coming back to this place reminded her of her family as it held so many memories of her and them. Some of them good ones and some bad ones but memories nevertheless and quite important memories at that. 
Michael-James
Michael-James
 My favourite image from one of Ní Chuilleanáins poems is the stark and stimulating image of the speaker in ‘Lucina Schynning in Silence of the Night’, washing themselves in a purifying and ritualistic way.
 “I washed in cold water; it was orange, channelled down bogs/ dipped between cresses”.

 I picked this image as my favourite because I feel that it really brings the poem to life in a thought provoking and dreamy way, as you can easily imagine the sensation of the cold water on your skin as you read over these lines.

 As well as that I feel as if to some people the fact that the water “was orange, channelled down bogs / dipped between cresses” would represent a kind of murky and dirty type of water, to me it represents the opposite of that, and shows us how the speaker is at one with all the elements of the earth and of nature as he or she is cleansing in the purifying water.

Stuart
Stuart
My favourite image from any of Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin's poems is from "Fireman's Lift". The poem is an exploration of the similarities between a fresco depicting the ascension of the Virgin Mary and the passing of Eiléan's mother. This is clearly displayed in one line in the second stanza. The poet describes how "Teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her," This a poignant description of the mother's final days before her death. 
The teams of angelic arms supporting her are friends and family, making her final days comfortable and surrounded in love. The angelic imagery also emphasises the love Eiléan had for her mother, and how supportive and honest a person she was in her eyes. The large teams of people let us know that there were a lot of people who cherished her mother also, and that were willing to comfort her at this difficult time.

Erika
Erika
I have chosen the image "When you look out across the same field and you both see the same star" from the poem 'To Niall Woods and Xenya Ostrovskaia, married in Dublin on the 9th of December' as my favourite image as I found the image both magical and meticulously crafted. This image signifies how the love between Niall and Xenya was fated. The star signals the two individuals to embark on their own  adventurous journeys, which will eventually lead them to each other. The couple has received a signal from heaven, instigating time is right to commence with their lifelong journey together. Here, love is portrayed as a reward, for those who adventure and persevere.

 The opening lines of the poem depict that love is something magical. This depiction is supported by the enchanting landscape of the poem. The poet makes continuous references to mythical stories and fairy tales alluded to showcase loyalty, integrity, and honesty in their core. Ní Chuilleanáin observes such qualities in her son's relationship and compares it to a fairy tale in an indirect fashion, indicating her aspirations for their 'happily ever after'.

It may also be interpreted that 'the same star' refers to the couples similar outlooks on life. When the couple 'look out across the fields' into their future, they both have the same ambitions and aspirations for life, they both see 'the same star'. 

Andrew
Andrew
I have choosen the image "like my father runing from a lorry load of soldiers" from the poem On lacking the killer insticnt. I have choosen this image because it is a clear vivid image of how outnumbered her father was running from the soldiers. It creates a suspense as we wonder is her father gonna get away from the soldiers or not. 

This image appeals to me as it is easy to imagine. The poets father is just like the hare in the poem. He is innocent and their knowledge of the countryside saves both of their lifes. 

As her father is running for his life you sould think that he would be scared of the consequences if the caught him . He could of been beaten , arrested or shot. Yet he described how he felt happiness and delight as he ran dextrously around the sharp corners with his pursuers closing in behind him. " such gladness,he said, cornering in the narrow road". These lines remind us that many people never feel more alive than when they are facing death. 
Melvin
Melvin
My favorite image from this poet's poetry is from 'On Lacking the Killer Instinct'. In this poem, the poet talks about two very similar incidents,  her father trying to escape a crowd of soldiers and a hare trying to escape a pack of hounds.

 In the first stanza, the poet quotes that "Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross, while the hare shoots off to the left". This image appeals to me as it highlights a clear contrast between both the animals. The hounds are clumsy, vulgar beasts while the hare is a nimble and agile creature. The hare is in control of the situation as its agility helps her escape the beasts.

From this line, we can imagine the hounds falling over one another in a tangle of limbs while the hare bolts away for cover. She describes the dogs as 'absurdly gross', ridiculously over sized and bulky, emphasizing how clumsy they seem in contrast to the compact and nimble hare.  


Megan
Megan
The image I have chosen is from Ní Chuilleanáin's poem "Fireman's Lift". The image is off the Virgin Mary descending into heaven "The Virgin was spiralling to heaven". This image appeals to me as frantic verbs and inspiring references to light, help to create a magical and graceful image in my mind and one which leaves a memorable image in my mind. 

Before the Virgin descended to heaven the light is described as a "fall-out of brightness" suggesting the intense and shimmering waves of illumination that seem to drift downwards and outwards from heaven at the painting's core. The poet uses frantic verbs to give us the idea that the ceiling of the dome is opening, awaiting the Virgin's descent.

The use of frantic verbs and references to light, help to make this image musical and memorable. 




Barry
Barry
My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin’s poetry is from one of her poems called “On Lacking the Killer Instinct”. Here Ní Chuilleanáin describes the image of a hare getting chased by two greyhounds. The poet describes the greyhounds as foolishly clumsy and unnaturally heavy creatures “Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross. On the other hand, the poet portrays the hare as agile, fast, quick thinking and powerful, “While the hare shoots off to the left, Full of not only speed and fear, But surely in the moment of glad power” The poet’s sympathy for and empathy with the hare is clear; she refers to it as ‘she’ although she can’t possibly know its gender.

The adrenaline rush that the hare feels is interestingly similar to another chase. One where her father is getting chased by a “lorry load of soldiers”. I think that the poet cleverly links up her father’s story with the story of the hare, two totally different stories that share one key valve, they showed that cleverness and quick-thinking can allow a seemingly weak prey to elude a stronger predator, whose situation appeared unfair and unequal.

The poet uses countless verbs and remarkable alliteration to vividly describe the extreme energy and movement required for the hare to avoid capture by the two grotesque greyhounds. I think that the contrast between the hare and the greyhounds really alludes us to believe that no matter what the situation is, when the adrenal and blood gets pumping and with a little bit of quick thinking you can get out of almost any problem.

Rachel
Rachel
My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin's poetry is an image in "Lucina Schynning in the Silence of the Nicht". It is the image if the speaker sleeping safely in the ruin. "I slept safely. Sheep stared at me when I woke" It allows the reader to feel the sense of ease and comfort she felt as " sheep stared at me when I woke." These sheep represent how comfortable she felt in their benign presence. It brings it home to the reader that nature is all around us. This is particularly the case for the speaker of the poem, as she "slept safely" in a ruin, where "bats flew". This image is one of serenity that reinforces the poet's sense of security in this deserted ruin. This image really allows the reader to understand what the speaker was going through at this time, and also strengthens the theme of nature, by exploring the redemptive powers if nature. 
 
 Her use of sibillancein these two line emphasises the Silence and harmony that was experienced by the poet. This in turn allows us to imagine what the poet had been experiencing prior to this, the emotional turmoil that drove her from her home to this place of refuge in the wild. This poem allows me to see thedifferencesin how people cope with difficult times in life. For Ní Chuilleannáin this was running away. This image enables me to understand the peace and relief that this experience must have brought her.
 
 
Hannah
Hannah
I really admire t
Hannah
Hannah
I have chosen the image “Past mist and shining, teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her” from Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem “Fireman's Lift”. This is vivid and mystical imagery, which showcases the strength and comforting traits of the angels. The innovative construct of this line in the poem showcases Ní Chuilleanáin’s skills as a poet. The rich descriptions in this line give the reader a more detailed image of the picture the poet is trying to convey. In my opinion this line sounds whimsical and dreamy. This line is full of light and movement due to the rich description and movement verbs which bring life to this line in the poem. I think that this line represents the poem very well as it is filled with movement, support and has a heavenly description. The line shows how imaginative and memorable Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem is. The line is a vibrant poetic representation of Ní Chuilleanáin’s mother’s spiritual ascent to the place beyond the clouds. I feel that this line has the graceful and peaceful ambience that the poet was trying to convey through the poem. The poet describes how the angels aided her mothers graceful ascent to heaven and fills the poem with a graceful image of death. The ‘angels’ who were “heaving, supporting, crowding” the poet’s mother could be also be representing the nurses who had been helping and supporting her mother before she passed away, the innovative imagery in this line showcases that her mother wasn’t alone and had people who supported and guided her, before and after death.
how much the loss of family has affected her throughout her life and how seeing one thing such as a cumulus cloud reminds the poet that her losses are all safe in heavan. We understand when reading this poem that everyone deals with loss in different ways but somehow we will always find comfort and closure. 

Precious
Precious 
One of my favourite images from Ní Chuilleannáin’s poetry is in the opening stanza of the poem “Fireman’s Lift”. The opening stanza conveys a vivid image of the inside of the Cathedral of Parma. 
“Through the big tree of the cupola where the church splits wide open to admit celestial choirs, the fall out of brightness”. Here the poet creates a vibrant image to describe the painting and it appears to me that she is comparing her mother dying to the scene depicted in the painting, which is a beautifully aesthetic comparison. This image is very memorable as it not only appeals to our sense of sight but also to our sense of hearing. The poet creates an aural image when she writes “celestial choirs”. In my opinion, she makes the beauty of the painting clear to us in order to enable us to capture the essence of what a special experience it was for her. This image is full of light and brightness. The light is shown as a “fall-out of brightness”, this is a very vibrant description that shows the intensity of the light. She says the ceiling of the dome “splits wide open”. It’s as if the cupola has somehow been retracted to “admit” this incredible brightness. It is obvious that the poet successfully compares the passing on of her mother to the painting she seen. Although death is a sad and depressing situation, the poet explores it in a beautiful and positive way. The deeper meaning of this poem encourages us as readers to have a positive attitude to life.

Jamie
Jamie
My favourite image from one of Ni Chuilleanain's poem's is 'Over twelve years it has become the place where you were sick one day on the way to the lake' at the beginning of stanza two of 'The Bend in the Road'. This is the first time the poet came emotionally involved in the poem This line gave me the impression that she felt quite nostalgic arriving back to the old house that she had not seen for twelve years. She pulled over at the side of the road to wait for her son to get better as he was feeling car sick. I think that coming back to this place reminded her of her family as it held so many memories of her and them. Some of them good ones and some bad ones but memories nevertheless and quite important memories at that. 
Michael-James
Michael-James
 My favourite image from one of Ní Chuilleanáins poems is the stark and stimulating image of the speaker in ‘Lucina Schynning in Silence of the Night’, washing themselves in a purifying and ritualistic way.
 “I washed in cold water; it was orange, channelled down bogs/ dipped between cresses”.

 I picked this image as my favourite because I feel that it really brings the poem to life in a thought provoking and dreamy way, as you can easily imagine the sensation of the cold water on your skin as you read over these lines.

 As well as that I feel as if to some people the fact that the water “was orange, channelled down bogs / dipped between cresses” would represent a kind of murky and dirty type of water, to me it represents the opposite of that, and shows us how the speaker is at one with all the elements of the earth and of nature as he or she is cleansing in the purifying water.

Stuart
Stuart
My favourite image from any of Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin's poems is from "Fireman's Lift". The poem is an exploration of the similarities between a fresco depicting the ascension of the Virgin Mary and the passing of Eiléan's mother. This is clearly displayed in one line in the second stanza. The poet describes how "Teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her," This a poignant description of the mother's final days before her death. 
The teams of angelic arms supporting her are friends and family, making her final days comfortable and surrounded in love. The angelic imagery also emphasises the love Eiléan had for her mother, and how supportive and honest a person she was in her eyes. The large teams of people let us know that there were a lot of people who cherished her mother also, and that were willing to comfort her at this difficult time.

Erika
Erika
I have chosen the image "When you look out across the same field and you both see the same star" from the poem 'To Niall Woods and Xenya Ostrovskaia, married in Dublin on the 9th of December' as my favourite image as I found the image both magical and meticulously crafted. This image signifies how the love between Niall and Xenya was fated. The star signals the two individuals to embark on their own  adventurous journeys, which will eventually lead them to each other. The couple has received a signal from heaven, instigating time is right to commence with their lifelong journey together. Here, love is portrayed as a reward, for those who adventure and persevere.

 The opening lines of the poem depict that love is something magical. This depiction is supported by the enchanting landscape of the poem. The poet makes continuous references to mythical stories and fairy tales alluded to showcase loyalty, integrity, and honesty in their core. Ní Chuilleanáin observes such qualities in her son's relationship and compares it to a fairy tale in an indirect fashion, indicating her aspirations for their 'happily ever after'.

It may also be interpreted that 'the same star' refers to the couples similar outlooks on life. When the couple 'look out across the fields' into their future, they both have the same ambitions and aspirations for life, they both see 'the same star'. 

Andrew
Andrew
I have choosen the image "like my father runing from a lorry load of soldiers" from the poem On lacking the killer insticnt. I have choosen this image because it is a clear vivid image of how outnumbered her father was running from the soldiers. It creates a suspense as we wonder is her father gonna get away from the soldiers or not. 

This image appeals to me as it is easy to imagine. The poets father is just like the hare in the poem. He is innocent and their knowledge of the countryside saves both of their lifes. 

As her father is running for his life you sould think that he would be scared of the consequences if the caught him . He could of been beaten , arrested or shot. Yet he described how he felt happiness and delight as he ran dextrously around the sharp corners with his pursuers closing in behind him. " such gladness,he said, cornering in the narrow road". These lines remind us that many people never feel more alive than when they are facing death. 
Melvin
Melvin
My favorite image from this poet's poetry is from 'On Lacking the Killer Instinct'. In this poem, the poet talks about two very similar incidents,  her father trying to escape a crowd of soldiers and a hare trying to escape a pack of hounds.

 In the first stanza, the poet quotes that "Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross, while the hare shoots off to the left". This image appeals to me as it highlights a clear contrast between both the animals. The hounds are clumsy, vulgar beasts while the hare is a nimble and agile creature. The hare is in control of the situation as its agility helps her escape the beasts.

From this line, we can imagine the hounds falling over one another in a tangle of limbs while the hare bolts away for cover. She describes the dogs as 'absurdly gross', ridiculously over sized and bulky, emphasizing how clumsy they seem in contrast to the compact and nimble hare.  


Megan
Megan
The image I have chosen is from Ní Chuilleanáin's poem "Fireman's Lift". The image is off the Virgin Mary descending into heaven "The Virgin was spiralling to heaven". This image appeals to me as frantic verbs and inspiring references to light, help to create a magical and graceful image in my mind and one which leaves a memorable image in my mind. 

Before the Virgin descended to heaven the light is described as a "fall-out of brightness" suggesting the intense and shimmering waves of illumination that seem to drift downwards and outwards from heaven at the painting's core. The poet uses frantic verbs to give us the idea that the ceiling of the dome is opening, awaiting the Virgin's descent.

The use of frantic verbs and references to light, help to make this image musical and memorable. 




Barry
Barry
My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin’s poetry is from one of her poems called “On Lacking the Killer Instinct”. Here Ní Chuilleanáin describes the image of a hare getting chased by two greyhounds. The poet describes the greyhounds as foolishly clumsy and unnaturally heavy creatures “Two greyhounds tumbling over, absurdly gross. On the other hand, the poet portrays the hare as agile, fast, quick thinking and powerful, “While the hare shoots off to the left, Full of not only speed and fear, But surely in the moment of glad power” The poet’s sympathy for and empathy with the hare is clear; she refers to it as ‘she’ although she can’t possibly know its gender.

The adrenaline rush that the hare feels is interestingly similar to another chase. One where her father is getting chased by a “lorry load of soldiers”. I think that the poet cleverly links up her father’s story with the story of the hare, two totally different stories that share one key valve, they showed that cleverness and quick-thinking can allow a seemingly weak prey to elude a stronger predator, whose situation appeared unfair and unequal.

The poet uses countless verbs and remarkable alliteration to vividly describe the extreme energy and movement required for the hare to avoid capture by the two grotesque greyhounds. I think that the contrast between the hare and the greyhounds really alludes us to believe that no matter what the situation is, when the adrenal and blood gets pumping and with a little bit of quick thinking you can get out of almost any problem.

Rachel
Rachel
My favourite image in Ní Chuilleanáin's poetry is an image in "Lucina Schynning in the Silence of the Nicht". It is the image if the speaker sleeping safely in the ruin. "I slept safely. Sheep stared at me when I woke" It allows the reader to feel the sense of ease and comfort she felt as " sheep stared at me when I woke." These sheep represent how comfortable she felt in their benign presence. It brings it home to the reader that nature is all around us. This is particularly the case for the speaker of the poem, as she "slept safely" in a ruin, where "bats flew". This image is one of serenity that reinforces the poet's sense of security in this deserted ruin. This image really allows the reader to understand what the speaker was going through at this time, and also strengthens the theme of nature, by exploring the redemptive powers if nature. 
 
 Her use of sibillancein these two line emphasises the Silence and harmony that was experienced by the poet. This in turn allows us to imagine what the poet had been experiencing prior to this, the emotional turmoil that drove her from her home to this place of refuge in the wild. This poem allows me to see thedifferencesin how people cope with difficult times in life. For Ní Chuilleannáin this was running away. This image enables me to understand the peace and relief that this experience must have brought her.
 
 
Hannah
Hannah
I really admire t
Hannah
Hannah
I have chosen the image “Past mist and shining, teams of angelic arms were heaving, supporting, crowding her” from Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem “Fireman's Lift”. This is vivid and mystical imagery, which showcases the strength and comforting traits of the angels. The innovative construct of this line in the poem showcases Ní Chuilleanáin’s skills as a poet. The rich descriptions in this line give the reader a more detailed image of the picture the poet is trying to convey. In my opinion this line sounds whimsical and dreamy. This line is full of light and movement due to the rich description and movement verbs which bring life to this line in the poem. I think that this line represents the poem very well as it is filled with movement, support and has a heavenly description. The line shows how imaginative and memorable Ní Chuilleanáin’s poem is. The line is a vibrant poetic representation of Ní Chuilleanáin’s mother’s spiritual ascent to the place beyond the clouds. I feel that this line has the graceful and peaceful ambience that the poet was trying to convey through the poem. The poet describes how the angels aided her mothers graceful ascent to heaven and fills the poem with a graceful image of death. The ‘angels’ who were “heaving, supporting, crowding” the poet’s mother could be also be representing the nurses who had been helping and supporting her mother before she passed away, the innovative imagery in this line showcases that her mother wasn’t alone and had people who supported and guided her, before and after death.

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