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Poetry from within
   

Another boring night in Belfast

The Troubles


‘ Q ‘ cars painted yellow

Next week painted red

Have to keep then guessing

Or we’d end up dead



Driving through the ‘ Falls ‘

Two-up in the car

Following ‘ The hit-men ‘

Heading for the bar



Every night for one long week

Their pattern stayed the same

The ‘ hit-team ‘ going in the pub

They’re playing deadly games



But not tonight, they drive on past

A quick change in their habit

Are they on the mission,

Or just out shooting rabbit ?



The ‘ Divis Flats ‘ sweep by us

The ‘ Dickers ‘ on the street

We follow at some distance

Peering through the sleet



We check our ammunition

The magazines are full

We place our pistols on our knees

This night is not so dull



We head out of the City

Past homes in leafy lanes

Into the Lisburn suburbs

where no one here complains



A lonely house their target

No street lights down this path

The occupants oblivious to

The coming Gunman’s wrath



The ’ Hit team ’ knock upon the door

Their pistols drawn ready

They don’t hear us behind them

Our pistols aimed and steady



Two rounds in the gunmen’s backs

Two double-taps then follow

The blood flows from between their lips

They had no time to swallow



Then silently we leave there

As quiet as we came

Two bodies left outside the door

Two pawns lost to the game



The R.U.C will come soon

They’ll know what we have done

But blind eyes will be turning

‘ The Det ‘ has been and gone



They will take the credit

The praise they will collect

For saving someone’s life tonight

Ignore us, I suspect !



We didn’t come for ‘ Glory ‘

We’re told ‘ Don’t shoot to kill ‘

But we’re not Politicians

So justice we instil



We drive back to the City

Another ‘ op ‘ complete

And live to fight another day

The silent ones, ‘ elite ! ‘



Operation Banner 1969-2007

Tom Mcgreevy
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