Enemy Encounter

for Lilac

Dumping (left over from the autumn)
Dead leaves, near a culvert
I come on
a British Army Soldier
with a rifle and a radio
Perched hiding. He has red hair.

He is young enough to be my weenie
-bopper daughter’s boyfriend.
He is like a lonely little winter robin.
We are that close to each other, I
Can nearly hear his heart beating.

I say something bland to make him grin,
But his glass eyes look past my side
- whiskers down
the Shore Road Street.
I am an Irishman
and he is afraid
That I have come to kill him

© Padraic Fiacc, Enemy Encounter

Padraic Fiacc describes the tense interaction between civilians and soldiers on the streets. Much of the time soldiers and civilians walked past each with no words or eye contact.