 The themes of her poetry include birth and childhood, the trials of love, the contrasts of passionate and cautious approaches to life, and Ireland and its predicament.Many have a powerful sense of place, several, including "The Three Children" and "Moon and Swan", being inspired by visits to her Hickie relatives at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and another, "Shankill", by the countryside near her childhood home at Dalkey.She herself admired the poetry of F. R. Higgins and Francis Ledwidge.