N'Iron

strife riven island corner, rough hewn by rival visitation
  vexed, looking in, looking out, on the edge of places to go
  thrang in thrall of other realms, banners furling, batons flung
  across seaways, shores and seamless land continuing
  beyond the borders and invasions of the mind

  volcanic bonfire stump, worn-down mountain clump
  drumlin thump, thump, thump, while hills reverberate
  caves retreat, cliffs stumble off deep-time plateau
  glens cut towards the coast, exposing Goliath's fluted organ
  bombs ignite, bottles shatter, stones clatter, slogans shout

  spirits drain, coloured pavements fade, granite grinds on inspiration
  troubles struggle, slow-moving sediment, river sludge
  meandering down around to glacial lough and semi-fjord
  drunk darkly under misty linen cloud, hope raised in expectation
  but dashed, gutter-sniped by big eejits with little thoughts

  town and village steeped in steeples, buildings ugly grey
  proud city centre, contradictions, museum to a sinking boat
  rows of homes hemmed in by battle-line, marching counterpoint
  kids abused by faith of elders, fear of other tribes, divisions dense
  men and women on a hill, still seeking higher ground

  mural mural on the wall, defiant cries from yesteryear
  balaclava land, flaunted flags, men with arms and caps of knee
  haunted eyes behind para-masks, they strut and swagger
  tat for tit and tit for tat, rasp of roll and bacon bap
  buck alec's cat with muscled dogs sniffing round and smelling rat

  vermin gathers, hate hurtling from the last ditch of derision
  new blood enriches, old clots dissolving within the arterial tide of now
  incoherent villains vanquished by youth unscarred and uncowed
  heroes arrive with undertone of punk and grumpy song-cycle genius
  the sport of limb, the gift of gab, global giants of rhyme and verse

  thorny countryside, wee stone walls, earth, sand and bog
  shallow secrets still abide, skulking cursed 'neath a skudding sky
  truth oozing from the wounds of revenge and retribution
  slow sullied justice in the telling, stories of dire humanity
  grief soothed by mournful refrain and some fiery craic, of course!

  as waves crash on, cakes 'will' be baked and walls 'will' crumble
  then watch our children's children elevate on bright shafts of sunlight
  their science and their art building cool causeways to the stars
  maybe then, someone will write in flashing laser along the mountainside
  " the man from del-monte always says 'yes' to a pint of the dark stuff "

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Emma Green

Date: 2/14/2018 10:13:00 AM

What a glorious use of language, superb phrases dashed in and out, adding so much colour i'm near blinded - but saddened. ' town and village steeped in steeples, buildings ugly grey proud city centre, contradictions, museum to a sinking boat rows of homes hemmed in by battle-line, marching counterpoint kids abused by faith of elders, fear of other tribes, divisions dense men and women on a hill, still seeking higher ground. Took me three reads and one aloud to understand the place, the strife, the history that even now engrains itself. But you've taken it to a muntain top with your superbly academic epic poem! Superb style, telling, meaning and all. And, what's more the last line puts things.. as they might be in that incoheric attitude!