Hunger Strike

[Gerry]

She raised him up with love
He was her only son
Why did he turn to violence
For answers she had none

He joined an organisation
He knew it was against the law
He could see no other answer
To the oppression he often saw

But when the law they caught him
Things they just got worse
In the H Blocks he read history
Politics were not on course

Then one day the news broke
A hunger strike was called
When poor Lilly heard that
She just cried and bawled

Weeks went past until it happened
The news she had always dread
Her only son had joined the list
He volunteered to end up dead

They started to die one by one
You wonder how they dare
Lilly asked her as a mother
But Maggie she didn't care

Her son he died in prison
He died by his own hand
What a waste of human life
To die for Ireland

By Gerry Temple
Copyright January 2008

[Steven]

True words from one who witnessed these troubles.

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello Gerry

A poignant testament indeed to the troubles and to those who sacrificed themselves to the cause by going on hunger strike. I have taken the liberty of correcting a typo in the line where you say, "He could see no answer" where you had "on" instead of "no."

All the best

Chris

[Gerry]

Thanks Chris. I never read my own work and Molly constantly corrects my typing.