Sometimes I feel a poem can say in a few verses more than a book can in several chapters.
Troops at the docks in Glasgow, January, 1919.
This this short poem is from Adrian Mitchell's book of poems, Heart at the Left. I believe this poem looks back at Glasgow's "Bloody Friday" 1919, when the police attacked a peaceful protest in George Square, resulting riots and soldiers being posted on the streets of Glasgow and at all dock entrances and elsewhere about the city. Obviously hinting that the British state would have no hesitation of doing it all over again.
As far as I'm aware, these tanks were stationed in a warehouse in Gallowgate, in Glasgow's East End, January, 1919.
Divide and Rule for as Long as You Can.
Glasgow.
Trade Unionists march through the square
Towards the City Chambers.
Police. Police. Police.
And in the streets leading off the Square---
Scottish soldiers with rifles.
Live ammunition,
They may be ordered to shoot into the crowd.
And behind the Scottish soldiers---
English soldiers with rifles.
Live ammunition.
If the Scottish soldiers refuse to shoot into the crowd
The English soldiers will be ordered
To shoot the Scottish soldiers.
Oh, but that was log ago.
That was in the future.
