My father was a long-range sniper
Royal Artillery
But he also killed a lad up close
A thing he never told me
Long-range snipers do not see
The damage that they do
But infantry are one to one
Who dies? It’s me or you
And evil in our world ‘s arm’s length
It’s comfortable that way
Only when we get up close
Does fear begin to prey
And Internet is all arm’s length
Computer click and clash
We do not care now what we say
Or do – we’re on the lash
Evil starts inside my heart
An intention to cause harm
If I ignore my weakness
I will cause alarm
And I’ll deny – it wasn’t me
I’ll hide away from truth
It’s light too bright I shun it now
What happened to my youth?
Brian Fahy
9 February 2022
+ The Gospel list of evils is worth meditating on every day, to see all the harm that is done in the world every day, and to recognise our own part in it.
Fornication, theft, murder,
Adultery, avarice, malice
Deceit, indecency, envy
Slander, pride, folly
Erris Poetry 