steelcityman

This is a poem based loosely on my experiences as a soldier in Northern Ireland in South Armagh.

It’s a bright day in the Province

         And Jack Frost is about

         All’s quiet on watch

         And then, There’s a shout

…

         The roar of an engine

         The squealing of tyres

         Burning the Tarmac

         Like foul-smelling pyres

…

         The police station’s gates

         Are closed and locked tight

         But the van doesn’t care

         It’s in it’s death flight

…

         A pale frightened face

         Is glimpsed through the glass

         As it sped past the sanga

         In it’s deadly last dash

…

         It burst through the gates

         With a rending of steel

         Shouts of fear and warning

         Rang out loud and clear

…

         The soldiers inside 

         Back from a three-day patrol

         Had just climbed into bed

         When they heard the call

…

         To gather their guns 

         And whatever they could

         Flack jackets and boots

         Then get out on the run

…

         They ran up the road

         And dived into a drain

         With guns pointing outwards

         Just like they’d been trained

…

         Bomb disposal was called

         Nearby streets were all cleared

         As the chopper was landing

         We all heard the jeers

…

   Of the tricolour crowd

  Which had gathered to see 

The Death and destruction

That was meant to be

…

They sent in the robot

To have a first look

with its black rubber tracks

A camera, and hook

…

As the robot drew near, the crumpled  van roared

Air filled with flame and sharp steel

Brick dust, glass, and an internal door

To add to the squaddie’s ordeal

…

Three soldiers were injured that Christmas Eve morn

And a republican boy in the crowd

The police station? …. Well, it was gone in the blast

With three of its walls torn down

…

It’s an endless war, all in God’s name

Steeped in politics of the past

One day, we’ll get out of this game

Green and Orange … together … at last.

(God willing!!)

Any critique is warmly welcomed, as usual. If you don’t like it, please tell me why. If you do like it let me know in the comments