These Walls

By Drea Nelson

Program Note:
The international scene often simplifies the "Northern Ireland Troubles" into a conflict between two communities with two separate identities: Protestant vs. Catholic and British vs. Irish. Andrea attempts to show how young people are forced to fall into one of these categories. The youth of Northern Ireland have at one point seen a contested space and currently try to live in a post-conflict society. These circumstances complicate their ideas of self-identification at a time when youth are already struggling to identify themselves in the world. Andrea is using a poem called "Borderlands" by Sarah Prentice-Mott, Macalester College (2009).

Beneath our wheels
the asphalt changes—the only sign
of a line
that divides
two sides
on this island
where who you are is decided
from day one
being the son
of the son of the son of the son
of the man whose grandfather
came across the water
and you're made to kill
bomb
and destroy
until your baby boy is lost
and you realize
the lives you took
were precious
because these walls built so thick by mind
and by brick
only separate like from like

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• modern
• contemporary
• dance
• northern
• ireland
• troubles
• youth