INTERNEES

We were all like young saplings

except for Madge

years had given her wisdom

like the oak trees that we sang to in the park

and carved our initials deep into their bark

never knowing how much a tree might hurt

nor did we care at the time –

for nothing mattered then that we could not rhyme!

As we stood to attention in line

saluting our fallen dead –

words from the Proclamation

would always proudly be read – 

though the prison yard was small, it was

large enough for us, to play, parade and pray

and breathe fresh air for a limited time each day!

they took our time and caged us in

with only cement and wire

they thought that imprisonment

would dampen freedoms fire

but death nor prison were not enough

to shatter freedoms dream

for we were growing oaks standing side by side

now almost fifty years but three

I think of each of us a tree

I hope you think the same of me!

Liz Mc Kee, Teresa Holland, Ann Walsh, Angela Nelson, Marie Delaney, Colette Mulvenna, Marian Friel, Ann Doherty, Brenda Cassin, Roseleen Watson, Margaret Shannon, Kate White, Briedge Mc Philips, Lilian Kelly, Anne Marie Mc Williams, Evelyn Gilroy, Mary Kennedy, Geraldine O’Neill, Geraldine Mc Cann, Julia Trainor, Moya Hennessy, Kate Finnigan, Margaret Bar, Annette Kennedy, Roisin O Reilly, Deirdre Flynn, Mary Robinson, Mairead Taggart, Madge Mc Conville, Gerri Canavan, Claire Delaney, Geraldine Taylor, Jean Delaney, Naula Tully, Eileen Delaney.

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