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    An Irish Heart: Poetic Memoirs of a Belfast Child.
    An Irish Heart: Poetic Memoirs of a Belfast Child.
    An Irish Heart: Poetic Memoirs of a Belfast Child.
    Ebook128 pages42 minutes

    An Irish Heart: Poetic Memoirs of a Belfast Child.

    By Greg McVicker

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    About this ebook

    The composition of story based poetry comes from the depths of one's soul while reflecting upon the human journey of life. Quite often, it is the author's own experiences wrapped between lines of stanza and prose. Yet, and although the footprint we leave behind is considered "unique" in its impression, it is shared with perfect strangers who become acquaintances through poetic inscriptions.

    Irish Author and Poet, Greg McVicker, was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during a period of sectarian hatred and a violent, political war known as 'The Troubles'. Using his unique and distinctive style of storytelling by way of stanza and prose, Greg dives headfirst into the turbulent cycle of life. He writes unashamedly from his heart, using powerful imagery and descriptive quotes that beautifully support and paint a vivid picture throughout his poetic narratives, all the while carrying readers along on a whirlwind journey! His poetic stories have and will continue to affect untold numbers of individuals throughout their lifetime. In his professional career as a Social Worker, he is unwavering in his efforts to shed light on various issues that people have in their daily lives, both individually and collectively, but are often left to suffer in silence. That is, however, until they come to realize that through Greg's writings, they are in fact not alone after all and share a unique bond with several thousand others who share similar experiences.

    "The Book and Poetry are so special. It is a very heartwarming, disturbing, and complex view of how things were from Greg's journey from his beloved 'Norn Iron' to Canada, and beyond, with great principles at work in himself, and from many others whom he met along the way. It incorporates Spiritual, Psychological, and Political Dimensions. Greg's journey proves again, that despite cruelty, and terrible conditions, human beings can somehow get through the worst that life throws at us, with love, support, and friendship, which re-ignites 'the Will to Live'. His Irish, Canadian, and Humanitarian Spirit looms large through his writing and his beautiful poetry. It is profound, funny, and moving. It deserves to be read carefully to the end, in a spirit of meditative reflection in order to fully appreciate the character of the man and his journey."

    - Gerry Rogers. Edinburgh, Scotland.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBelfast Child Publishing
    Release dateNov 27, 2017
    ISBN9781775162469
    An Irish Heart: Poetic Memoirs of a Belfast Child.
    Author

    Greg McVicker

    Irish Author and Poet, Greg McVicker, was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during a period of sectarian hatred and a violent, political war known as ‘The Troubles’. In his professional career as a Social Worker, Greg is unwavering in his efforts to shed light on various experiences that people have in their daily lives, both individually and collectively, but are often left to suffer in silence. Using his distinctive style of storytelling by way of stanza and prose, Greg dives headfirst into the turbulent cycle of life. He writes unashamedly from his heart, reaching out to his readers and carrying them along the waves of an emotional tsunami. His poetic stories have and will continue to affect untold numbers of individuals throughout their lifetime.

    Read more from Greg Mc Vicker

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      Book preview

      An Irish Heart - Greg McVicker

      Introduction

      In the 1980’s, a trio of brothers from the small farming community of Derrylin, County Fermanagh, traded in their traditional Irish instruments and would go on to form one of Northern Ireland’s most powerful and successful rock bands: Mama’s Boys. The music as created by Pat, John, and Tommy McManus instills as much inspiration today as the day it was first unleashed to their faithful global following, including me.

      As a result, and for years, I tried writing songs inspired by these musical geniuses, since they had left the deepest, and most profound of impacts, upon my eager mind. No matter how hard I tried, however, my compositions would end up in poetic format. As my hand at songwriting failed, some of the poems were created with guidance from my beloved mum, Catherine McVicker, who departed from this world on May 11, 2005. Her memoir can be seen within ‘Mum’s Lament’; her full story is captured through a personal reflection of the same name and appears within my first published book: ‘Through the Eyes of a Belfast Child: Life. Personal Reflections. Poems.’ It speaks to my mum’s undying love, dedication, and concerted efforts to protect her four asthmatic children throughout one of the most, darkest periods, during Ireland’s brutal history, often referred to as ‘The Troubles.’ Her story tells that a mother’s love knows no boundaries, even during her own time under a veil of death’s calling.

      Since publishing Belfast Child, a wonderful colleague of mine, Henrietta Pratt, suggested that I put all of my poems forth into their own book. Each poem is penned using a storytelling format, speaking to life-changing events that everyone can relate to and reflect upon.

      As I often say, In life, we all have a cross to bear and a very unique story to tell; we just hope that someone will take the time to listen.

      So here we are… thank you for taking that time.

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      Stranger to my Land

      We were on the upper level balcony, and as the building shook from the shockwave created by the bombing, we screamed. In our state of panic, we tried to get up and run, along with every other patron caught in this explosion. My dad threw his body over the four of us with his arms and legs fully outstretched, pinning us to the seats while saying, Stay down and don’t move. You don’t go outside, as there might be a second one waiting for you. What he was referencing is that once the first explosion had gone off and had created its intended shock, panic, and chaos, a second device was usually planted and packed with glass, barbed wire, nails, and shrapnel, to cause as much human devastation as possible.

      Through the Eyes of a Belfast Child, page 43.

      Stranger to my Land

      In my beloved town of Belfast,

      Off goes yet another devastating bomb blast.

      In the streets the people lie dying,

      Over their bodies, their families start crying.

      In a land that is run by hatred and rule,

      Fragile people are made to feel like a fool.

      Where the citizens would like to have the choice,

      Freedom of speech, the language in their voice.

      Both sides, for their marches and silly parades,

      Look like nothing more than a game of charades.

      While they walk so defiant, they chant and they shout,

      Soon we will get all of those other bastards out.

      While we know the place is well overrun,

      By ignorance, who shall hide behind a gun.

      They target all innocence that lock into sight,

      They continue their torture by day and by night.

      When people do apply for a job,

      Noses are turned

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