Light of Civil Day

The Light of Civil Day - Poems of Memory, Mortality, and Resilience from Boston to the Maine Coast

In The Light of Civil Day, Robert Breen-Boston firefighter, Irish-American poet, and observer of life's quiet reckonings-delivers a collection of lyrical reflections on loss, love, endurance, and place. Grounded in the working-class streets of Boston and the coastal landscapes of Maine, these poems bear witness to the fragile moments of life and the deep human need for connection.

With the eye of a first responder and the heart of a storyteller, Breen explores both private grief and public tragedy. His poems, many previously published in respected journals, are informed by a lifetime of service, family heritage, and his friendship with literary legend Seamus Heaney. This collection speaks to readers who find grace in small details, reverence in ordinary moments, and resilience in the face of hardship.

Enjoy this example of Robert Breen's work:

Skating

Your joy,

Our civility,

in harmony,

with sharing

a cooperation

to be amiable.

All in balance on a thin single blade.