AssonPublishing UK   -     POEMS, POEMS AND POETRY BOOKS-AUSTIN EDWARD ORCHARD-THOUGHTS ACROSS A LIFETIME

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"Father," I asked, "what did you do for the cause?"
He replied, "Oh sweet one, I got to know the people of the mainland,
I bought them drinks
And laughed at their jokes,
But when the time was right,
I blew them up in their pubs and bars."
"Was that right, dear father, to kill and maim so many?" asked I.
"Yes" said he, "for justice and freedom we must seek."
"Brother," I asked, "what did you do for the cause?"
He replied, "oh sweet one, I crept within the covering shadows of night,
Cloaked in cowardice
And came upon my neighbour's door
And when the time was right,
I killed him in front of his wife and children."
"Was that right, dear brother, to cause such pain and break hearts?" asked I.
"Yes" said he, "for God and country we shall defend."
"Sister," I asked "what did you do for the cause?"
She replied, "Oh sweet one, I came upon young soldiers scared and lonely,
Some mothers' sons.
I gave them warmth and they shared my body
And when the time was right,
I betrayed their trust to those who kill with ease."
"Was that right, dear sister, to lay that boy below the ground?" asked I.
"Yes" said she, "for truth and reason must prevail."
"Mother," I asked, "what did you do for the cause?"
She replied, "Oh sweet one, I stayed at home in silent shame and wondered why
I taught you love
I taught you all The Bible spoke
And when the time was right
I prayed to God and sanctioned their crimes with my silence."
"Was that right, dear mother, to ask of God the forgiveness you could not give?"
"Yes sweet one" said she "for Christ and God we must proclaim."
"Sweet one," they asked
"What did you do for the cause?"
I replied, "I played in the rubble and burnt out homes,
I came upon the dead,
I saw the evidence of your bigotry and hate
And now the time is right
I can only ask,
Please, please,
Tell me why?"
"Well sweet one," they said, "the Cause."
"What cause?" asked I.

website © Alison Orchard Hammill

August 2003 - updated November 2008

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