The Identification: A Poem Inspired by Tragedy- Watch Video Here
On Friday 21 July 1972, 19 IRA bombs exploded across Belfast in little over an hour. Nine people were killed and 130 others were seriously injured in what became known as Bloody Friday, one of the worst days of the Troubles.
14-year-old Stephen Parker was one of those who died that day.
Just days after the bombings, Reverend Joseph Parker spoke to BBC News about identifying his son's body. The interview was seen by millions of people across the UK.
Poet and writer Roger McGough watched the news that night. He was so moved by what he saw, it inspired him to write The Identification, one of his most celebrated poems.
In 2023, 50 years on from the publication of his reflection on those tragic events, BBC Archive spoke to Roger McGough.
On Friday 21 July 1972, 19 IRA bombs exploded across Belfast in little over an hour. Nine people were killed and 130 others were seriously injured in what became known as Bloody Friday, one of the worst days of the Troubles. 14-year-old Stephen Parker was one of those who died that day. Just days after the bombings, Reverend Joseph Parker spoke to BBC News about identifying his son's body. The interview was seen by millions of people across the UK. Roger McGough watched the news that night. He was so moved by what he saw, it inspired him to write The Identification.
In 2023, 50 years on from the publication of his reflection on those tragic events, BBC Archive spoke to Roger McGough. Watch as Roger sees, for the first time since it was originally broadcast, the interview that inspired him. "Watching Joseph Parker, I don't know what it was about it, but it just sort of spoke to me somehow. His humility and his lack of hatred, his shock. He was able to, somehow to me, dramatise something awful and drew me into it."
The poet Benjamin Zephaniah sadly died recently. You can hear him here talking to Roger on Radio 4’s Poetry Please.
‘When there is doom and gloom I bring you poetry.’ Benjamin Zephaniah on Poetry Please
Listen again here
Poet Roger McGough: ‘I like being on stage but I don’t like people looking at me’
“I had been writing for a while when I thought, I write for children as well. When I’m writing them, I don’t know when I’ve finished if it’s a child’s poem, if it’s an adult’s poem — and they are both usually.”
Review: Roger McGough, Alive and Gigging at the Liverpool Playhouse
'Scaffold Re-united.' On October 29th, Roger took to the Everyman stage in Liverpool with John Gorman and Michael McCartney to celebrate their first performance there sixty years ago (60 years)! Two sell-out shows and three tired but happy Scaffolders.
A review for Over to You from NATE Primary Matters.
This poetry book is a hoot! The first few poems are cleverly written as if the author is struggling to come up with a poem (as if, indeed!). The character of a teacher provides regular guidance and the poems themselves, with distinctive voices depending on where they are in the pecking order, have something to say as well- the first poem cries ‘Enough! Stop! Stop!’ and makes the poet promise not to write a second.
There is learning sneaked in with explanations for poetic forms and terms, e.g. the explanation of a simile, and then It’s ‘Over to you!’ and we are treated to animals with aspirations: the rhinoceros who dreams of becoming an airline pilot; the cat who dreams of becoming a racing driver, the wasp who speaks out in defence of its actions, and so many more entertaining and thoughtful renditions
Poem after poem had me laughing out loud. Roger McGough is a consummate wordsmith and his flair, skill and appeal to young readers (and old ones) are evident in spades in this collection. The closing poem reiterates that ‘writing makes you feel better’- a message for everyone.
This is such a brilliant book and comes highly recommended. I could wax lyrical about the rest of the poems in this collection, but really- just buy it!
