The Slain Birds by Michael Longley Harry Clifton placing them lovingly on the

placing them lovingly on the graves of the dead

'Annemarie Austin's world is one of doubles and reflections

An 'old throat from the other side'

the violent

he had talked/ to her of the water

The Slain Birds by Michael Longley Harry Clifton placing them lovingly on the'One of the most perfect poets alive. There is something in his work both ancient and modern. I read him as I might check the sky for stars.' Sebastian BarryMichael Longley's new collection takes its title from Dylan Thomas 'for the sake of the souls of the slain birds sailing'. The Slain Birds encompasses souls, slayings and many birds, both dead and alive. The first poem laments a tawny owl killed by a car. That owl reappears later in 'Totem', which