THE BURNING OF CORK

In her first original piece of poetry for Ireland of the Welcomes, Babz Clough shares her work

Charred facades face their neighbors, emptiness exposing scorched shells side-by-side, standing starkly over still smoldering Patrick Street. Gloved hands held behind him, an unsullied sliver of white sleeve brilliant against the black and tan.

The officer offers no aid and eyes the soot-stained laborer lifting and heaving heavy stones onto these rubble-wrecked roads.

Columns of smoke sift through the blue. A hint of morning sun sparkles softly, but this bright day is soon snuffed out.