Such long, cold days
In such a bitter city.
The cold seeps through the houses
Doors, windows and all
And damp settles on the walls.
And everyone is sick,
Dying
Coughing up their insides
Wheezing and hacking away.
But it’s okay;
It’s normal.

My sister is gone,
My brothers – the twins – are gone;
But most of all, my dad is gone
Lost in the world of the pint
And Kevin Barry.
He’s here, but he’s so far away.

The teachers at school yell and scream
They make you repeat everything they say
And they hit you till your skin is raw
And you bleed.
Some boys are mean too
They jeer and sneer and call you names
Just because your dad is a drunk and you’re a bastard
Because he gave your mother the excitement a little too soon.
It’s not my fault.
I’d rather be anywhere but here.

Such long, cold days
In such a bitter city.
Such torment, such misery
In a place I call home.