Green Diamonds

(Dedicated to Johnny Friary)...

I wish every school day

could be like

the day

Johnny Friary’s feet

came swinging through

the glittery green glass

at the top

of the stairs.

I wish every school day

could be like the day

Johnny Friary’s feet

transformed him into a trapeze artist

showering gritty green diamonds

on the priest

and the headmaster

below.

I wish every school day

could be like the day

Johnny Friary’s feet

made the priest swear

and say he’d kick his arse,

while the headmaster

stood fuming

and drowning

in green diamonds …

b e

l

o

w

!

(Selected and read by Michael Longley at Pushkin Awards, Northern Ireland 2001)

Published in Snow in Summer Anthology