‘Door to door, Belfast 1969’ by Finola Scott

Imagine a curtained room
table set with supper,
the radio hums.
A knock at the door.
Shadows through glass.
Staccato bullet-raps on wood.
Outside, shoulders square set
balaclavas snarl, a fist punches out
a rattling can.
A barrel winks, trigger oiled
Collecting for the lads.
Coins shake, paper unfolds.
Purse empty, chest pulses.
Boots
to the next
through spring-yellow flowers and hedge
and next and
the glowing room
fat congealed on plates.

(previously published online in Jan’16 in Leaveners Poets Corner)

Finola Scott’s poems are widely published in anthologies and magazines including The Ofi Press, Raum, Dactyl, The Lake, Hark, Poets’ Republic, The Eildon Tree. She is mentored by Liz Lochhead on the Clydebuilt scheme. A performance poet, she is also proud to be a slam-winning granny.