Beslan-Not Forgotten
by
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Part One-First Day at School Number One 1. Its early morning September 1st. 2004 At Middle School Number One Beslan North Ossetia It’s the first day of the new school year Would it be as always? But no- never again! Always until now A day of excitement Exhilaration, elation Enchantment, wonder, expectation, For every boy and girl Little children hold tight To mother’s hand Reluctant to let go. 2. The first day is called ‘Knowledge Day’ A day of celebration For some re-union Full of hopes and wishes like ‘Have a wonderful day’ ‘You look wonderful’ ‘Thanks for the roses’ 3. But the time for fun and celebration Is short lived Evil walks in the doors blocking off exiting For 1200 children and adults Taken hostage By 32 Rebels With innocence long departed From their now pathetic minds The school is quickly primed Gym halls and corridors Cables, tripwires Bombs hand precariously Hostage takers human bombs Parents at first bemused Unknowing Soon to the realisation All now prisoners What they think Will be their fate! No need for panic yet! Some try to engage In conversation with their captors But to no avail 4. It is day one of the Beslan school siege Children and parents are well treated Water is a-plenty Free access to the toilets Negotiations take place Ruslan Aushev Former Ingushetian President Negotiates the release of Twenty toddlers and children Good progress one might think But there are no concessions to the hostage takers But alas, negotiations break down
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About the Book
Beslan-Not Forgotten is an extended poem chronicling and analysing the sad story of the sacrificing of hundreds of children in a junior school in Beslan, Northern Ossetia for a cause identified in the course of the poem. It includes historical analysis. Commemorates the brave citizens of Beslan and lends its support to their suffering. The title includes the words ‘not forgotten’ as there is a danger that these kind of atrocities can be so easily airbrushed out of history.
About the Author
John Haughton is author of the ‘Silver Lining’ which is the story of the Irish Aviatrix, Lady Heath and the history of irish aviation in the 1930s. He is editor of two anthologies of peotry about the environment, written by pupils of the Ballyfermot schools in Dublin, under the title, ‘The Forest of children Dreaming’. Some of John’s poems are included in the anthologies: ‘Migrating Minds’ -Bayside Writers- and ‘Trinity Collage’ -Trinity Writers. He was joint editor with Rosemarie Rowley of the Cáirde na Coille anthology ‘Seeing the Wood and the Trees’. The Claddagh Ring: This ring has distinctive design features, two hands holding a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The hands denote friendship and togetherness, the heart itself signifies love and the crown symbolises loyalty.