Ceased Fire, a poem by Niall Cahir
Niall Cahir -Writer, Photographer, Artist. Based in Birr Co Offaly. Born 1966, in Cork city. Niall’s poetry is honest, deep and meaningful. Snap-shots of everyday life, thought provoking, with spiritual imagery. Measured shares of shade and light, strong yet delicate in texture, just like the man himself! Niall has performed at events such as ‘Scene of the Rhyme’, ‘Voices Raising’ and at music festival ‘Electric Picnic’. His framed writings hang in a number of private collections in Germany, the UK and Ireland. www.rainchill.wordpress.com
“To put down a story-line credibly, lyrically, with rhyme and rhythmic beat, using assonance and alliterative technique, that’s the challenge, that’s what I like.”
Ceased Fire
The gun hung heavy from his shoulder blade
Swinging
Digging
Aching
Ingrained combat manoeuvres made
RAID after
RAID after
..raid
A spent hero, questioning
As flights of fancy, fade
Although, the training made him bolder
Tough!
..he never felt brave
Not near enough!
Nothing would, or could have prepared him for this
A tainted national promise
A poisoned kiss
Honour and glory for frayed homeland flag
And his fated prize?
..a latent toe-tag
Medalled military merit
Used, abused, confused!
Man’s programmed slave
A preyed-upon pilgrim
..pawned by governing knave
Penetrating shell
Piercing pain!
Shattered muscle
Severed artery, main
Throbbing
Throbbing
Pulsating earthly agony
Lonely
Convulsively
Sobbing
Sobbing
Sensations dulled in sequence
Failing
Failing
One by
One by…
ssshhhhh
..one
All debts, marked ‘PAID IN FULL‘
This truly vicious cost
Mortal coil shuffled, discarded
Tossed!
Outer battles fought
An inner war, won
Struck-off as collateral damage
This man!
..was someone’s son
His conditioning ran deep
Humanities malevolent tool
No longer the gregarious sheep
Nor manipulated puppeteered fool
So, sleep soldier sleep
May death make you whole
Fearless rest is yours, eternal soul
© Niall Cahir