Four years at the university
to learn how to say
you’re as frightened
or as disgusted or as dead
at Sparta or at Troy

Four years at university
and your words sound good
even though every time you symbolise
you lie and I can’t blame you
I hide behind my four years
at University too

But my fingertips graze
on the rough of this brick
breath clasp, not sure
which way home is safest?
is that car slowing down?
or is it just me
can’t find other words
for Belfast, for fear

Joe Duggan