Barney Rooney Poems

They say the child's been radicalised
impregnated before their very eyes
a neat incision implanted with precision
blind stitched the cleft between truth and lies
...

They said that of course the soul could not be seen
but mine was translucent white
exuding a gentle light
nestled there deep within my being
...

I'll buy me a burger that's sweet and cheap
get me a burger that fills
give me a burger that I can afford
for craving is the worst of life's ills
...

Faith of our Fathers living still
in spite of dungeon fire and hoary
old pulpit tales at the mission
in spite of a church militant that forgot what
...

Warn your children not to eat
or touch the fruit when raw
but processed flesh proves sweet enough
for those within the law
...

in this town
it is not the common way to meet the eye
of even an almost brushing passer-by
in this town
...

Good morning Bernard how are we today?
The girl in the paleblue uniform top leans across my bed
the pillow is straightened and gently eased beneath my head
and the light clean smell of perfume warms me to the voice
...

The wee dark eyed girl.
Where is this child from?
What changeling act
what soldier on his weary journey back
...

Ssssh hush my sweet new born
I have carefully wiped each nipple
in preparation for your tipple
the package makes a promise
...

So, the first cut is the deepest?
but what of deeper cuts to come
for to change a creed seems deep indeed
as when a father's name no longer suits his son
...