Paralysis
Which side?
Years of trauma
When will it subside?
Imbedded like a baseline
Glorify those who fought at the frontline
A feeling of constant decline
When will our youth get a chance to shine?
Our country
Who’s country?
Tension between generations
Conflict and segregations
Where is the space for our creations?
Our peaceful relations?
Our lives
Politicised
It’S oUr CuLtUrE !!!
Our lives
Deadlocked
By flags walls name-calls
By violence hate blood
It’s not over
What is the solution?
Revolution?
Evolution?
Tell us how
Tell me now
What is our now?
Our present relentlessly feeding on shock waves from the past
Never receding
Open wounds still bleeding
Can we start healing?
Bred in division but share this common fate
James Joyce’s blanket of snow still hasn’t melted
When will we be connected?
Broken people
Broken homes
Broken bones
I want a new now
New hearts
New love
New blood
All this rain, surely we can wash away the pain?
Waiting for our Spring
Where flowers grow from sorrow
Dreams replace screams
We dance like fuck with our friends
And think this could be the place
Where spirits are reborn
The hold of the past is torn
All this rain, surely we can wash away the pain? Waiting for our Spring
Where flowers grow from sorrow
Dreams replace screams
What more can I say?
How long will we pay?
The pavements we walk on
The posts we lean on
The bars that we drink in
Our minds that we think in
Original photography by Tolu Ogunware.
“Living in Belfast, I sometimes feel like there’s no space to grow. I have a lingering internal conflict with myself about loving where I’m from because it’s part of me, but I also have a desire to pull away from my roots. This is due to the rife transgenerational trauma that, I think, holds Belfast back. I’m stuck in limbo between hope and hopelessness. However, I believe our generation can create a new tomorrow, a new identity and safe spaces whilst acknowledging our past.”
Evangelia Zacharopoulou is a writer and activist. Links to other works are below:
Instagram - Walking Contradiction