Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Ceasefire
by Michael Longley, a poet from Belfast
I
Put in mind of his own father and moved to tears
Achilles took him by the hand and pushed the old king
Gently away, but Priam curled up at his feet and
Wept with him until their sadness filled the buidling.

II
Taking Hector's corpse into his own hands Achilles
Made sure it was washed and, for the old king's sake,
Laid out in uniform, ready for Priam to carry
Wrapped like a present home to Troy at daybreak.

III
When they had eaten together, it pleased them both
To stare at each other's beauty as lovers might,
Achilles built like a god, Priam good-looking still
And full of conversation, who earlier had sighed:

IV
'I get down on my knees and do what must be done
And kiss Achilles' hand, the killer of my son.

I read that poem today; it was hanging on the wall of a mediation center.
Here I am, in Northern Ireland. I'm staying outside of the Belfast city centre, at a teacher's college, though the group is in Belfast proper for most of our days. We began our time in the North in the border area of South Armagh, traveling up to the city almost a week ago. I can focus on writing about little things, like the plants growing through the cracks in the sidewalk, or the robin I saw this morning, or my newfound love for beans on toast. But not the bigger things. I think I am beginning to understand now why one of our speakers at Glencree laughed (bitterly?) when he spoke about the term "post-conflict." What does post-conflict mean? Is that what you call it after people stop killing each other? I don't know.

3 comments:

  1. I wonder if writing about the little things might also be a way--sideways, innocent, sneaking-up-ish--of writing about the big things.

    Beans on toast??

    Thank you for sharing Michael Longley's wrenching poem.

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  2. thanks - i think you're definitely right about the little things.
    beans on toast! more like beans on an english muffin. oh, they're delicious.

    thinking about Mac today - please email me and let me know how the surgery goes.
    xoxo

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  3. Beans on toast and "post-conflict." You have me thinking.

    Wondering. And thinking.

    ReplyDelete