1916

 

 What moved them to throw caution to the wind

 To break out of committee room and bar

 Ignoring those who warned this was too far

 Those who later condemned and said they'd sinned

 What fearsome lightning their resolve confirmed

 To face artillery and armoured car

 What deafening thunder what shooting star

 Incited rebellion, what fire that burned

 In brave Irish hearts in nineteen sixteen

 To seize the post office in Sackville Street

 So that freedom's flag from far might be seen

 What great passion did lethargy defeat

 Generations later still we wonder

 What valour tore oppression asunder.

 

David Subacchi

from my collection 'A Terrible Beauty' 2016.