Surrounded By The Open Spaces

Surrounded By The Open Spaces

By Paul McCann

I remember going down to the Co-Op shop to buy a Kit Kat bar and then going on down the Crumlin Road , but it really wasn’t that far .to the town and no one then bothered to ask you what religion you are because things were different then , we had peace every second of every hour .

I walked up the Glen at twilight to frighten the bats from the ruins there and caught a glimpse of heaven knowing the presence of God was everywhere.

All around Ardoyne there were so many places for a child to explore , the time was right and there was a big world waiting just outside your front door

Beyond the pale moon there were places like harmony hill where time stood still and the last wolf howled and cats cried for milk that babies bellies couldn’t fill .

There were plots of ground for hire for keen gardeners to grow some small crops and all the way along the roads there were little children’s lollipop shops .

It was more than just a wee dander to go up around the horseshoe bend or up to Divis mountain walking secret paths there where you could pretend you were a lion wandering through the long grass in among wild flowers and the roads to Chimney Corner or Seven Mile would take you hours .

The likes of hikes from Ardoyne were a step away and if your pace was fast you could find empty spaces filled with honeysuckle trees as you walked past and as you squeeze out the liquid you knew that the day had come to an end and it was time to return home to Ardoyne where everyone was your friend .

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