Until Before After

Ciaran Carson

2010 • Gallery Press

[…] my wife Deirdre was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumour a while back. After scans and tests, it was felt that the tumour was non-malignant and that an operation would not be necessary. On the Night Watch was written out of that. Then, a year later, it was found that the tumour had increased in size and it was decided to operate. I’m glad to say it was a complete success, but it is a daunting procedure. Until Before After was written out of that anxiety. Among other things, it’s trying to examine how our sense of time is distorted by the pressure of not knowing an outcome. So I found myself examining the nuts and bolts of the language, the little prepositions that can mean so much in terms of our positioning ourselves in relation to others and to ongoing time.

— Ciaran Carson

Poetry English Language

Until Before After

Ciaran Carson

2010 • Gallery Press

[…] my wife Deirdre was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumour a while back. After scans and tests, it was felt that the tumour was non-malignant and that an operation would not be necessary. On the Night Watch was written out of that. Then, a year later, it was found that the tumour had increased in size and it was decided to operate. I’m glad to say it was a complete success, but it is a daunting procedure. Until Before After was written out of that anxiety. Among other things, it’s trying to examine how our sense of time is distorted by the pressure of not knowing an outcome. So I found myself examining the nuts and bolts of the language, the little prepositions that can mean so much in terms of our positioning ourselves in relation to others and to ongoing time.