Easter Rising (Poetry)

Pale eggs lie smooth and fragile
each brittle shell so thin
yet hidden quiet and growing
new life swells brave within.

The brooding bird sits nervous
of every move by man
to wreck the rambling hedgerow
and curb unruly land.

Harsh sounds of saws and strimmers
pierce through the springtime’s calm
and fill the waking thicket
with deepening alarm.

Men crush the early violet
beneath a careless boot
grub up the briar and nettle
cut back the questing shoot.

They mutilate and cripple
yet numbers will prevail
each sharpened thorn and prickle
will fight them tooth and nail.

New chicks will hatch to birdsong
despite the war on green
and flowers bloom for Easter
the unquelled sap supreme.