LILT xxxii.
THE SHANKILL BUTCHERS
c. 1968
I buy a mini kilt
and a gold maple leaf pin
with green and white borders
My grandmother says
people will think I’m a Catholic
I say sure it’s all one god
c. 1975
We’re in Australia
Ten Pound Immigrants
My mother writes
glad you went they’re cutting
the throats of mixed couples
I say there’s no god worth that
—
The Shankill Butchers was a notorious loyalist gang in Belfast’s Shankill area, which kidnapped, tortured and murdered random Catholic civilians 1975-1982. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shankill_Butchers online [accessed August 27, 2016]. At the time there were also reports of mixed (Catholic and Protestant) marriage killings.
Christ, what a time. Good stuff Lizz.
ReplyDeleteSo strong, Lizz.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robert and Sarah. Chasing that last line to: I say sure there is no god. Meanwhile it's annoying me :)
ReplyDelete*Changing :)
ReplyDeleteOh Lizz!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I think the last line of each stanza is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rob.
ReplyDelete