Here is the River

Eamon Friel  Cop. Con.

No one will remember us at all
On this busy street we’re past recall
Focussed in a storefront camera’s gaze
In a day or two they will erase
This the only record of us here
We are not important people dear

Older than the ones we walk among
We’re not old but darlin’ we’re not young
Most of them are on a longer lease
They’re all grown up the children of the peace
And they refuse to recognise the call
Of the faded slogans on the wall

Here is the river just where it was
When we were courting still here today
How can the river be where it was
When it’s forever running away

Years ago a day of rage and fear
On the news I saw a sign appear
A view across the city showed the fires
But the wide perspective made the spires
Of the two cathedrals seem to fuse
So there was one cathedral on the news

Up the street a ragged flag still pinned
On a lamp post flounders in the wind
No salutes are given or returned
Burn them all when all the flags are burned
All the emblems and the anthems too