Coloured Memory

Memories of growing up in Northern Ireland in the 70’s coloured by the experiences which became normalised and woven into every day life.

Coloured Memory

Bright bunting, union hues,

kerbstones red, white and blue;

From grey poles, fly red hands,

Lambeg drums, blue flute bands,

Orangemen, orange sashes,

background noise of news flashes,

“Thick black smoke, street runs red,

flying glass, soldier dead;”

On gold sand children play,

like any other day;

Red lights, street amber glows

roadblocks, army patrols,

Lammas Fair, yellowman,

candy floss, pink suntans,

blackened faces in the hedge,

point dark guns from the edge;

Yellow gorse, fields so green,

unmarked cars, dark windscreens,

Grey Land Rovers, armed cops,

suspect parcels in shops,

R.U.C., bottle green,

fresh appeals, no one seen;

Sea of blue, Murlough Bay,

like any other day;

Blue kings, white horses tall,

look down from gable walls,

dripping down grey render,

white paint, “No Surrender”,

maroon caps doing searches,

magenta Lenten churches,

tarred black and feathered white,

soldier dolls seized at night;

Black pints served on a tray

like any other day;

Black cars, black ties, black hearts,

lives turned to body parts,

each side’s truth, a shared fate,

chasing rainbows of hate.