North of the border
don’t forget about North
of the border—there was always talk
even then, don’t forget
there was no border then
but even so one night
men came and gave his grandfather
no chance to argue
just shoved the guns up
the chimney; here you’ll hide
these for us or get a hiding
or worse
in the deep black and tan seam
that divides
bog from field on the edge of the townland.