Waterford De La Salle student publishes deeply personal poetry collection

Waterford student Darragh O’Dempsey has published his first anthology of poetry, titled 'The Serpent’s Hiss'.

In The Serpent's Hiss, Darragh shares a deeply personal view into his experience of adolescence in Waterford, delving into the often turbulent journey of youth, navigating identity, rebellion, love, and loss.

Speaking on the work, Darragh said that creating the collection became an important emotional outlet for him during a difficult time.

“It’s very autobiographical, full of feelings that I’ve felt of heartbreak and grief and the loss of identity. They’re all etched into the pages. 

"I find it a way to process and put my emotions into words. I think we’d all combust if we kept it all inside, so it became a very important outlet for me.

"I think poems are great snapshots and I think of them almost as time capsules of moments, especially with ending in De La Salle and that feeling of nostalgia."

Darragh added that the process of creating the work was both therapeutic and personal.

“I don’t sit down with the intention of saying this is going to be a sonnet or a dramatic monologue, it just flows out and when I think it’s done I put a full stop. Poetry is very raw and vulnerable so having the relatability and knowing there’s a person behind the words is important to me."

The title is both striking and beautiful, with the serpent representing various aspects of Darragh's identity and experiences.

“I always found snakes very enticing," he said.

"The shedding of the skin marks coming to the end of my time in De La Salle, and everything that has happened in the last two years, it just felt right to shed the skin and move on."

Darragh’s book 'The Serpent's Hiss' can be purchased on Amazon, or by clicking HERE