‘I could be in the present, but I’m hyper-focused on the future.
And I’m not the only one. In fact, the majority are in this boat with me.
Rather than appreciating the now, we’re anticipating the hypothetical better tomorrow’
– Daragh Fleming, A Brief Inhalation
[ About A Brief Inhalation ]
A Brief Inhalation is a candid exploration of contemporary existence, dissecting themes of identity, dislocation, and introspection with a sharp, unflinching eye. Blurring the line between essay, memoir, and poetic observation, Fleming navigates encounters with the absurd, the intimate, and the existential with a voice that is wry, incisive, and deeply human. From fragmented conversations to immersive cityscapes, from the weight of memory to the fluidity of self-perception, this collection captures the restlessness of a mind attuned to the strange rhythms of modern life.
[ My Review ]
A Brief Inhalation by Daragh Fleming publishes March 31st with the award winning indie publisher Broken Sleep Books. Daragh is a writer and a poet but he is also a mental health advocate who is described as being ‘dedicated to reshaping the way we talk about mental health.’ I have previously read Lonely Boy (2022) by Daragh Fleming which I stated was a reflection, a memoir, a truth and A Brief Inhalation offers the reader that same level of honesty and disclosure.
‘You and I, and everyone you know are creative intrinsically because we are human’
Daragh Fleming moved to Spain in order to get some headspace and to focus on his writing. With this powerful new collection, we get insights into his most vulnerable thoughts and feelings over a period of transition in his life. As a voice for mental health, Daragh, in recent years, has never shied away from publicly speaking about his personal experiences. Through various talks and workshops he has assisted many to understand the importance of looking after ourselves and looking out for others. Daragh continuously pursues to normalise mental health issues, encouraging others to open up and be honest in a world where it is so very easy to hide behind the artificial screen of social media, in the past and using other props.
‘When we live in the moment, the rest of our lives cannot affect us. The past cannot haunt, and the future cannot loom over.’
Daragh’s writing resonates with many of us and I think one of the reasons for this is that he is reflecting what many of us fear to acknowledge. The daily struggle can be quite difficult for many but opening up about it can be even more difficult. As Daragh traverses across parts of Europe staying in hostels, making friends with strangers, falling in love and capturing the wonder in the everyday, he takes the reader on a reflective and also humorous journey. With a rare honesty, Daragh Fleming is unflinching in describing his thoughts and feelings at any given moment. He sees beauty in the ordinary and his refreshing take on his own, and others, lives and ambitions is raw and deeply personal.
‘Good writing, good art, brings us directly into the present mindfully. We are emerged in only the moment that lays before us now’
As a poet and a writer, Daragh views the world through a slightly different lens than many, with words that enforce a stop, a brief inhalation. His writing expresses a vulnerability that offers a powerful connection to his readers. It is unfiltered, intimate and reflective. As he navigates his own personal path, he is unafraid to let us in to walk beside him for a short while, to immerse ourselves into his world and into his mind. With an underlying profound message of hope and resilience, A Brief Inhalation offers solace and inspiration. A contemplative and contemporary collection, A Brief Inhalation is a soul-searching, sensitive and meditative examination of life written with the sharp and understated hand of a poet. A rich and generous read.
‘We are not yet capable of healing each other through some sort of shared telepathy. Plants can do this. We however can help one another along. Words are our source. We can communicate and express our emotions. We can reach across the divide like no other creature can, and we can let one another know we are together. We are one in the same and will get through whatever needs getting through.
Perhaps this is our osmosis. Our ability to use words. Delicately. Imperfectly. Perhaps this is how we help one another to heal’
A Brief Inhalation ~ Preorder/Purchase Link
[ Bio ]
Daragh Fleming is a writer from Cork, Ireland. He has work published in many literary magazines, including Stand, Southword, and Crannóg. He was shortlisted for the Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize in 2024, and highly commended for both the Patrick Kavanagh Award and the Fool For Poetry Prize in 2023. He won the Duncairn Flash Competition in 2024.
A Brief Inhalation is his second collection of essays.
