Peace broke out in 1994
Then the semantic battles
Began, highly explosive verbs
And nouns were fired
Without warning by all sides,
Sending newspaper editors
Diving to the floor.
The spin-doctors favoured
Pincher movements, to ambush
The views of opponents;
Meanwhile, citizens hold their
Breath, as they enjoy
Every minute, every piece
Of the imperfect peace.
How long is a piece
Of string?
As long as the journey
To a new beginning?
A yellow brick road,
Where peace is king.
By Sean Maguire
Published 2001 in ‘Burning Voices’ – anthology
Runner-up, Books Across The Border Competition
November 2000