Irish history has led to this present

by Brijit Varghese

Irish history has led to this present, not with tension
but unforgettable scars still etched from the past
Ranging from marches, wars, declarations, and documents.
Blood, sweat, and tears paired with stabs of betrayal
Barely keeping afloat, their lives were changed forever
As the years pass by, the sting still remains
As new generations emerge, we can only hope
the prejudice diminishes to help us cope.

Reproduced with kind permission of the author. Written during workshops at Mount Lourdes Grammar School, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, led by James Conor Patterson.