Death in Ireland

From England on boat crossing

we hear the news

there’s been a shooting

Ireland’s South Republic

Ten miles from where we’d be staying

The slaying of gangland leader

N-way, cars slowed to halt

Five young men lose their lives

in get-a-way after robbing has gone wrong

The next morning on waking

to hear about two more shootings

Ireland’s Gangland revenge attacks

Now the signs on the roadsides

declare in County Clare

that 36 ‘crossed out’ to 42

had die here in the last three years

We drove down into Nenagh town

100 folk lined the road

In dark

not black

they where clothed

black jeans

black tops

“Ah, they’re waiting for a funeral”

I had returned to the place

I had not see in forty years

Aunty Mary greets us

as if I’d never been away

lived there all her life

Uncle Matt nodded

didn’t say much

didn’t have to

The television left on throughout

meeting of old and new

only turned down for the passing of the dead

100 mourners walk in silent ceremony to cemetery

“Local man died not been missed for 16 days

overdose, someone says - theys’ are the ones he worked with”

Matt said flatly

After procession had passed I stood outside

camera

looking back at the house

is this where I’d begun?

Aunty Mary

steps out

with a God Bless Them

family and friends

lost that year alone

and years gone by

Matt showed me his vegetable patch

“My last potato and cabbage crop”

Soon to be grassed over

“The soil needs to rest”

I could only agree

Copywright Joseph E Ogden 2003