The Wren, the Wren

Carmel decides to look up Phil’s television interview on the Internet. She finds it easily but does not watch it immediately. She prepares the house for Nell’s return later that week. While eating a blackberry, she remembers a superstition Phil taught her to explain why blackberries feel so mushy in late September and childhood memories of harvesting berries with Imelda.

Carmel cleans and then goes grocery shopping. Nell is in the habit of working hard for months only to fund trips abroad. This bewilders Carmel, who follows her journeys on social media. Carmel compares Nell to Phil as both espouse left-leaning politics.

Carmel considers looking up a recipe for courgette flowers online but realizes she will have to confront Phil’s interview on her computer. She sends a picture of flowers to her old friend, Aedemar. Carmel wants to tell her about Phil’s video. She remembers how Aedemar told her she was lucky that both of her parents already died. Carmel does not call her.

Carmel plays the video. Phil discusses Irish bird species and his relationship with Terry, who grew up in Dublin, unlike his countryside upbringing. Phil’s early poetry intended to communicate the experience of pastoral life to her. He says their marriage failed to survive after she became sick.

Carmel replays this portion of the interview, noting his use of the word “unfortunately” to describe their relationship’s end. She repeats the word to herself and observes Phil’s thick accent. This reminds her of Phil’s fondness for “The Wren Song,” which he used to sing while banging pots together after Christmas.  Carmel enjoyed this annual country tradition before she learned the song was about killing a wren. Carmel replays the interview.

Carmel calls Nell to ask about her travel plans. Nell does not answer. Carmel distracts herself with Phil’s video and realizes how easy it is to love him and hate him simultaneously. When the interview reaches Phil’s discussing the end of his first marriage, Carmel observes the sad look in his eyes, demanding sympathy.

In the interview, Phil recites a poem about a bird seeking company after its hatchlings leave the nest. Phil discusses writing exclusively about Ireland and women’s minds. Phil says his poems function as bouquets for the women he loved. Carmel outlines the poems that correspond to each of those relationships, including Bunty, the woman Phil pursued after Terry. Phil called Bunty “The Heron.” He craved her sexuality but despised her at their relationship’s end. After, he dated poet Selma Karras, alleging abusing her. Connie, Phil’s second wife, never received a flower poem.

Carmel harvests the courgette flowers, growing resentful toward Phil and his self-importance. Carmel alerts Imelda to the video, though she is already aware of it. Imelda encourages Carmel to share the video with Nell, who is in Bali.

Carmel pictures how Nell’s stubborn personality might fit in Bali. She finds one of Phil’s books on the windowsill in Nell’s room and sits down to read it as though she were Nell. She realizes how poorly she has treated her daughter despite her love. She struggles to know how much control she needs to exert as a mother. Carmel wants to share the story of the wren with Nell, believing it is a cautionary tale. It is nighttime in Bali, and Nell is likely asleep.

The novel presents a translated poem, “The Scribe’s Lament.” The speaker writes feverishly, transcribing “God’s wisdom” onto the page. They suffer the aches of writing for others’ benefit.

The next morning, Carmel watches the interview again and sees Nell in Phil. Nell texts to announce her arrival plans and says she is bringing a friend home.