Across the barricades

In Northern Ireland, a land of strife,
Where troubles have plagued for most of life,
A history soaked in blood and pain,
A never-ending cycle, it seems, remains.

Once a nation of opposing views,
Religion and politics, they both did fuse,
Catholic and Protestant, side by side,
A divide so deep, no bridge could ever hide.

From Belfast's streets to Derry's walls,
The echoes of violence, they still do call,
The scars of conflict etched upon the land,
A constant reminder, a nation's demand.

Brother against brother, a civil war ignited,
Families torn apart, friendships divided,
Borders redrawn, checkpoints raised,
A battle for power, a legacy always praised.

But through the darkness, a glimmer of hope,
A longing for peace, a desire to cope,
From the Good Friday Agreement to ceasefires declared,
A fragile truce, a step towards repair.

Yet, peace is a delicate, elusive beast,
With dormant tensions, ready to be unleashed,
Community walls still standing tall,
Segregation's grip, refusing to fall.

But the people of Northern Ireland, they endure,
With resilience and strength, their spirit secure,
For in the face of adversity, they find a way,
To bridge the gap, come what may.

So let us strive for understanding, not division,
To listen, to learn, without precondition,
For in unity, lies the key to mend,
The troubles in Northern Ireland, a wound that needs to mend.