I used to pass a slaughterhouse
On my way to school
Occasionally they let us see inside
A cow lay dead upon the floor
I don’t remember any more
But I grew up eating steak
And salad side
In America I know they have death row
Its very name saddens me to the core
We did away with hanging
Pierrepoint did no more
Ruth Ellis wasn’t saved though
She added to the score
We thought we’d done away with war
On our little island home
Ran films to bask in glory
Of how we beat the Hun
And then came 9/11
And George Strutting Bush
And the need to be seen to be doing something
Terrible terrible hush
We are dealing with dictators
Whose world is one of fear
Not just the fear that they impose
But the fear they feel so near
If you insist on force of arms
To keep you in your job
You’ll never have a peaceful night
Though no doubt you’ll earn a bob
Putin is a frightened man
Though he wishes to be strong
Launching missiles at innocents
Saying they are wrong
But there’ll be a day of judgement
We face what we have done
We can no more hide from the truth of God
Than from the rising sun
Brian Fahy
29 April 2022
+ Violence is a form of language, of communication: The worst kind. Our response in words will document truthfully what has happened, and we will speak words that ask for peace. We already understand why this war is happening. Putin feels threatened. How can we change that? – Through diplomacy and dialogue: The only way.
Erris Poetry 