Life on the Run

[dedalus]

This will be the last poem, you'll be pleased to hear, until I return from Ireland in September!

 

Life on the Run

Danny C. of the IRA, at a pub in Ennis (2009)

 

When your life is collapsing

on all fronts, there are two things

you can do: stay put or leave.

One is only marginally better

than the other, since no matter

where you run, they’ll find you.

 

I belong to the stay-put faction,

finding a simple change of address

works better than reinforced steel doors,

better than expensive firearms.

A few fake IDs and prepaid phones

meshes well with favours owed;

 

but, you know, you can never trust them,

even ‘friends’ will sell you out in a flash

for fear or favour. Even lads from the county

succumb to dark and unknown pressures.

It is usually better to virtually disappear,

avoid all meetings, drop off the radar,

 

until you get a sense of the situation,

figure out how serious they really are.

Then you start to move against them.

Your second ID, the greatest risk,

is the key to all the other IDs, the stash

of cash in various bank deposit boxes

 

and your ticket out. Avoid all airports

and do ferry crossings, not with hitchhikers,

but with a rented single mother and child.

She’ll do anything, poor cow, for 500 quid

plus expenses, one day’s work, and even wonders

why you don’t want to sleep with her.

 

That would be exploitative, unkind: easy enough,

aye, but contrary to the principles of revolution.

And, of course, there’d be the child to think of.

[tonyv]

Very Burn Notice, Brendan. But what about this:

 

This will be the last poem, you'll be pleased to hear, until I return from Ireland in September!

They don't have internet access in Ireland??? Okay, no pressure. But we'll miss you!

 

Tony :)

[dedalus]

Hi Tony,

 

Very Third World country, Ireland ... . I'll look in occasionally, but I won't be spending much time on computers!!

[Larsen M. Callirhoe]

ive grown to love your excerpts from your grandpop. i enjoy reading your crisp poetry. know you will be missed my friend. we are more than a community here we are extended family. be well and take care.

 

the poem is excellent. the adventure is so true. you know a had a run in with the itallian maffia in the early 90's. they kill my cousin's boyfriend for free after he beat her up. the only catch was i had to become a hitman and whack off a few people. of course they would of paid me. i said no to the deal and told them that i would be pressured to always owe you favors and that guilt mistrust is something i don't want to live with and in this way i can relate to your chap here. it is strange who we encounter in life by chance

 

take care

 

victor

[dedalus]

There's not much to choose between politicals and criminals although the politicals tend to be more idealistic, i.e. not engaging in their activities for direct personal gain. The line gets very thin. Anyway, Victor, hang in there & keep the faith!

 

Best wishes,

Brendan

[RHommel]

although the politicals tend to be more idealistic, i.e. not engaging in their activities for direct personal gain.

 

Hi Brendan,

 

I'm so sad that you are leaving already!! I just got here... but I suppose catching up on all you've written (and spoken) will be enough for me to keep busy while you're away... although I must say I'm not sure which country you're living in where politicians don't engage in activities for direct personal gain! Woot! That's a good one...

[Aleksandra]

Bren, this is very well and ambitiously written poem, as always.

I hope you'll come back with lot's of new experiences and new poems. Good luck in Ireland, and we can't wait for your good return.

 

Aleksandra

[Lake]

Hi dedalus,

 

Yeah, stay put. You have lots of interesting stories to share with us. The fake IDs, ferries, especially a rented single mother and child make me think of illegal immigrants.

 

Your signature line reminds me of a line in a Chinese poem, something like:

 

Cut running water with a sward, it flows faster;

Drink wine to drown my sorrow, it grows heavier.

 

Have you taken your trip to China yet?

 

Have a pleasant journey.

 

Lake