Images 1982-2012 Poem by Cecelia GrantPeters

Stunned by the Image of the Ulster boy burned and dead,
Made hard, by the Image of Stephen Lawrence, stabbed and dying
At a London bus stop.
I ask myself;
When does the Worm set in?
When does Decay set in, and
Mould our lives like living clay
And lead one man to Kill his Brother?

Stunned, by the Image of Kosovo
Bombs and Fire and Children weeping, and
I ask myself;
When does the Worm set in?
When does the Living Clay
Mould each man to Maim
And Kill Another?

Stunned, by the Image of war-torn lands
And Children’s tears on the front cover of newspapers
And I ask God:
When does the Worm set in?
And mould our Hearts to know no fear
And ultimately to kill our Brother?

Stunned, by the racist slogans, and N.F.
Carefully graffitied on a Council Estate wall
And children, hardly noticing add
To the writing, and not thinking
Mould themselves like Living Clay
And Ultimately Betray Another?

Stunned, by the Image of the Innocent London Boy
Stunned, by the Image of the Innocent Ulster Boy
Left to die in Streets of Shame:
And I ask myself;
When does the Worm set in?
And deep Decay like a Cancer eats away
And gives us Heart and Mind to Kill our Brother?



25th March 1999