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Open Poetry #49
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Cari
Member
Posts 411
Englnand

0 posted 2016-01-06 01:29 PM





Clerics wring their hands in false piety
And in the house of god
The crucifix and the Kalashnikov
Rest side by side

A gauntlet of head scarf harpies
Wait on the rain sheen pavements
Children, hesitant, bewildered
Follow the Pied Piper

She stumbles, dropping her school books
A gob of spit merging with tears on her cheek
I raise the muzzle and stare into crazed eyes
Begging for martyrdom

I lift the little one to the safety of my arms
Golden hair buried from terror
The dimpled knuckles white on her ears
Shutting out the screaming obscenities

The Falls or the Shanklin
Are overdue for the gathering of the clans
But don’t arrive in your party dress
The cocktail’s are not for drinking.


A poem of my time in Ireland at the height of the Troubles, it concerns escorting a group of 6yr old Catholic children to school through a Protestant area in Belfast.


© Copyright 2016 Cari - All Rights Reserved
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
1 posted 2016-01-06 01:33 PM


For sure Ireland has had more than their share of religion against religion persecution. Good write

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

Ticklefingers
Senior Member
Posts 710
Louisiana
2 posted 2016-01-06 02:50 PM


I recall the ditties of 'Castro in a mini-skirt'. The "Troubles" never seem to go away, and neither has she.

She told me "play one for your supper Danny and maybe you'll get breakfast".

ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania
3 posted 2016-01-06 06:10 PM


I have studied the problem from Oliver Plunket( could have gone back to Henry VIII) to Bobbie Sands...a fear filled history...Hate on both sides, with the flag of Patriotism, and religophobia waving everywhere

Like the black flag of the Daish.

Your poem is well done, makes me feel deeply, the moments in it..

Thank You

"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance."
Carl Sandburg

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