Rattlesnake Jar

Rattlesnake Jar is the debut poetry collection by David Philip Ireland, bringing together poems written across decades of observation, memory and lived experience. From post-war childhood to the landscapes of Gloucestershire, from Amsterdam and Venice to hospital wards and vintage shops, these poems explore love and loss, art and work, illness and recovery, travel, family and the quiet mysteries of everyday life. Written in a distinctive, lyrical voice, the collection moves between intimate reflection and vivid storytelling, discovering the extraordinary within ordinary moments. Whether recalling forgotten streets, chance encounters or the changing seasons, each poem is rooted in a deep sense of place and an enduring curiosity about what remains when time has moved on. Rattlesnake Jar is a book about memory, resilience and noticing—a gathering of fragments that together create a rich portrait of a life fully observed.