Identification In Belfast

 (I.
R.
A.
 Bombing)

The British Army now carries two rifles,
one with rubber rabbit-pellets for children,
the other's of course for the Provisionals.
.
.
.

'When they first showed me the boy, I thought oh good,
it's not him because he's blonde—
I imagine his hair was singed dark by the bomb.

He had nothing on him to identify him,
except this box of joke trick matches;
he liked to have them on him, even at mass.

The police were unhurried and wonderful,
they let me go on trying to strike a match.
.
.

I just wouldn't stop—you cling to anything—
I couldn't believe I couldn't light one match—
only joke matches.
.
.
 Then I knew he was Richard.
'

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