Poem written by POW Mickey Devine on the eve of his Hunger Strike
If Jesus
If Jesus Christ appeared tonight
With his body bruised and bare
And he said he lived in H-Block
And asked you did you care
If he asked you would you help him
Before he went insane
To help him bear his burden of suffering and pain
I wonder would it stir you
To raise your voice and cry
To tell the world of torture
And all the reasons why?
But what about his children
Who suffer day and night
Have you raised a hand to free them
From their lonely hell like night?
For this day a broken body
Will live through trial and fear
And feel the pain of hunger
And shed a silent tear
He'll take a look around him
And to heaven make a plea:
"They crucified you, Jesus
And they're doing it to me".
But even through his anguish
When nothing seems worthwhile
The thought of home and family
Will always raise a smile
His friends and comrades too,
They've tried their best to help him
The question is - will you?
Mickey Devine
Irish Republican Socialist Movement
H-Block 5/Long Kesh
1981.
