The title of my sonnet is inspired by that of the excellent 1995 film, Land and Freedom, directed by eminent film director, Ken Loach, persecuted in the UK and elsewhere for his compassionate socialist views.

With reference to my last six lines: the terrorist murder in 1946 of British soldiers, of Jews and others should not be forgotten in the rush to attempt to justify the seven-decades-long Nakba of the Palestinian people. That process has for many years been known colloquially as “Mowing the Lawn”…such a civilised occupation (pun intended), don’t you think?

For Land and Freedom, some profess great love;

No place though, in my heart for blood-drenched stones;

A charnel-house, where grew an olive grove;

My new-born’s crèche, built on crushed babies’ bones?

What’s Freedom for? to build Apartheid’s walls?

That’s good for nought, but sowing death and hate;

Its harvest, cruel, to evil it’s in thrall,

Brute arrogance spits in the Prophet’s face,

But Onward Christian Soldiers march and sing;

Remembrance Sunday sees no lessons learned,

Po-faced, the cleric drones: where is death’s sting? 

Their silent night cloaks Truth they all have spurned.

   Efficiency ensures that coffins filled

   Mean coffers full, more blessings for those killed. 

Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh 6th October, 2024