Gerry "blue boy" Kelly
choked on his drink,
as he pulled on the choke,
of his old gray Bonneville.
It finally gave out,
atop the corner Esso,
were sun sets Atlantic,
across old Fulton,
not far from
where the Westies
would roam.
Where the dead still loom
over blood red streets,
that pour across bridges,
and down on to the floors
of the restaurants
and taverns,
in Spillane's Hells Kitchen.
Old Gerry opposed
a sit with the Brits,
said he has a friend,
"big fella"
Mr Collins,
they spoke for hours
of "black and tan".
"Belly up to the bar
my friends..
"hard men"
follow with glee,
Tis I,
Mr Kelly,
who will be giving
the orders now.
Amongst the red brick central,
of war torn streets
in Catholic west,
they burned in their homes
with Protestant orange.
Men in Ulster greet old guards return,
weary of conflict, weary from pain,
that bears no escape,
from the fires of history,
where it will become,
our long lost home.
Author notes
I.R.A
Peace Now.
Comments
1 - 39 of 39
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"that bears no escape from the fires of victory" - peace takes so long. A great write again - not surprisingly.
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A very story-like poem, with a feel of the Old West. You give a very clear picture in the readers mind and I like that. You made me curious.
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I do so love a good story...niiice!
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Brilliant!
'Where the dead still loom
over blood red streets,
that pour across bridges,
and down on to the floors'
So much pain and sadness!
Best wishes
Sonya -
Being as my mothers last name is McCoy and a good teller of tales as well, I grew up hearing of these conflicts and your words paint visuals a deeper shade. I like poetry that directs it's focus on worthy causes or political unjusts and concerns.
Kudos to you.
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I intitially (sp?) read this because the first line 'Gerry "Blue Boy" Kelly....since Kelly is my last name...when I finished I was a little in awe...again you amaze me with your words...now I am to young to know of these things...seeing as how I've always lived in the states...my heritage was never taught to me...still such raw energy in your words...thanks for penning this beautiful work of historical art!
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My pappy used to tell me the IRA was a myth (ignorance is bliss?)...he grew up in donegal...meanwhile, i have some cousins who were members.
I remember as a young boy being in manchester during the '96 bombing... and was warned against wearing any orange when i went to ireland shortly after.
when i visited derry a couple years ago i was told the fighting had pretty much subsided but it was very obvious the city is still quite segregated.
great poem showing life there. ireland has a fascinating history.
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Yes!! Peace NOW!!
Thank you for your heart-and-soul-felt words for Ireland's people. It's the poet's voice, like your own, who really makes a difference in the world. 
Éire go Brách. 
Peace, love & hugs,
xx Cyn xx
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I hope I can shake your hand one day.
So you got your computer back up and running? Did you get my last message?
Jess x
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WOW!!!
vingettes bliss!!! Bravo!!
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Interesting. I grew up on the West Coast of Scotland and my Dad was in the orange order for a while and would often go over to Ireland with his brother. I kinda get what you are talking about and understand that life.
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great!
Yeah, I love "the street" feel to this and the historical, working class and very human spirit of this piece. Phrasing is beautiful, sharp, fractured, giving it a real sense of life and movement... the sound really stirs the blood! A wonderful work.
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all i have to say is i want to be as good as you
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I have not long returned from Belfast, I celebrated Easter there and marched on Easter Sunday along the Falls Road. It feels peaceful, it feels quiet and more at ease. The ballot box is where the fight is now, this is the way it should be and to see the tri flag fly made this irish heart smile. This is a wonderful piece C
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Nostalgic, and metaphoric write. And as usual, very well done. Thanks for sharing, and may God bless.
Ron
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As always I love your pen. You never disappoint me when I go to your work. Peace is something we all wish for and, truly need. You have an awesome way with words. I've envied your talent since the first piece I read by you.
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Stunning!!!
So heartfelt and powerful.
This write shook my soul.
Thank you very much for sharing this.
Best
Love Peace
campanaro
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Ah, Another excellent write from an excellent poet.
I loved your imagery. I loved the colors you expressed in this.
Always a pleasure to read your work.
Well written, my friend.
-Mandi
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wow, great job. The last two stanzas hit me
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Great Write
Great imagey and emotion on an especially sensitive and emotional topic. Very well done!
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Always so colorful and engaging. You know I love your style and admire your skill already. This is awesome.
Where the dead still loom
Is my favorite line, I can feel them looming as we speak.
HUGE HUGS
Sheli
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Great write
Your usage of imagery are outstanding and I enjoyed this work very much. It's hard to brlieve that these religious conflicts have lasted for so long. Is difficult to stand against voilence especially when it come to issues that have passed down throught generations. Continue to write and express yourself. CONRAD
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Another great work here Lowell! I liked the words you expressed about life inUlster...very thoughtful work again!
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Hey!
verry nice verry -
Wow, I haven't had a manual choke since I had my '68 Mustang.
I appreciate this work, not many understand that the conflict has so much more going on than the disagreement in religious practices. It does indeed seem that peace may be on it's way. The "old guard" on either side with no mind for compromise are being pushed aside as those who wish for a better future are seeing how things could be.
The father of my mother's father came here a Protestant in the early 1900's
Peace be with us all
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The conflict goes on because there are stupid people who refuse to let the past be past and feel the need to entertain their useless, uneducated lives with violence.
As for religion, that fiction is only bin worthy, killing over it should result in the most painful death imaginable. -
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I agree with you somewhat, those that are performing the acts of violence are being led down to it by those who have more desire to hold onto power than they have in peace. They are incited to violence. This state of being fits into many circumstances throughout this world.
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not suprisingly Wonderful
those last lines are gorgeous and evoke much emotion!! i like that you've waxed political in this. i always enjoy the affection you show for your culture and heritage. it's beautiful to see and hear!
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a great write poet from an outsiders point of view it is sad to see a beautiful country like Ireland still having the seething turmoil beneath the surface ...the Irish can be so much fun and really know how to shake the shillaely and speak the blarneystone and on top of that they can dance and sing ...would it be great if the two sides orange and green faced each other stopped ....and did a full on multi color Irish Jig , whilst singing Danney boy arm in arm with a tankard of stout in a great big Tavern . and forgot what they were fighting for ..but i know if the Irish did that ...They would have to corner the world market on hang over cures..either that or the hair of the dog was an Irish wolfhound ...excellent write even got me waggin the toungue
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Ireland the land where time never moves past 11:00 pm, we are so close to that embrace that would bring the days of eternal strife to an end yet being human as we are this dream seems ever more elusive.
"Where the dead still loom
over blood red streets,
that pour across bridges,
and down on to the floors
of the restaurants
and taverns,
in Spillane's Hells Kitchen."
I did truly enjoy this read and wish for all those souls to find a way to live together for if we truly do have but one life to live why not live it in peace and harmony amongst brothers and sisters.
I like it, I like it so!
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Ahoy! There is much to say, n’ of that ye can believe me, thing of it is, true as true, upon me honour, arrgh, I’ll warrant that ye been writing litteryture for some time n’ this be a good ‘un, arrgh. Me dooty to ye.
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"Belly up to the bar
my friends..
"hard men"
follow with glee
Tis I,
Mr Kelly,
who will be giving
the orders now.
Sometimes your comments are as entertaining as your writes Liam. Saddened?
I don't particularly feel sad about it, I am GLAD the fighting has ended-but wary too.
Black and tan. That also brought a smile.
This write is nothing short of fucking awesome Liam,
thank you for sharing it with me.
Love always,
jin
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Ah, etched in your soul, remembering days in Belfast and Ulster and the battles between the Protestants and Catholics....A down to earth look from a man at the bar...Mr. Kelly....nostalgic look back to the country of your homeland...bittersweet....g.
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I enjoyed this poem, having read about the IRA. One of my earliest memories of political events was when I was 5 and there were bombings during Expo 67. It is linked because my parents went there and it was in the news. It has always stuck with me.
Great job on this one.
Mike
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Stunning
Quite a poem of heros and pain.
Do you remember Bernadette Devlin?
Supergrass?
The following men went to Maze prison...heros all.
They pushed in all of the chips when it counted the most.
Bravery with "0" odds.
Bobby Sands
Francis Hughs
Raytmond McCreesh
Patsty O'Hara
Joe McDonnell
Martin Hurson
Kevin Lynch
Kieran Doherty
Thomas McElweg
Michael Devine
Someday there will be shrine with these names etched.
When you walk out of your house in the morning and you see foreign troops at the corner, there's only one thing to do. -c
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These men are all interred in Milltown where a huge memorial is dedicated to these martyrs. For now years after, they did not die in vain and Bobby Sand's poetry is heard, sung and read around the world. I had the honor to place a wreath this Easter on his grave at the ceremony on Easter Sunday. It was a privilege C
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I don't know what its about.
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I love this. It's rich with history! I love that so much. I love the language you used in this and the imagery, especailly like the one in the third stanza makes it so real.
It's nice to read a poem I know a bit about the backround on too. I like the way colour was used in this...especailly the black and tan...having the historical refrence and all.
Síochán leat
~Mairéad~
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Yeah, I guessed the IRA references, even in my ignorance...It is a sad thing to write about, for sure.
Religion doesnt seem to unite.
Intelligent piece nevertheless, but i'm afraid it saddened me in my delicate state...
Peace
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