I wrote this poem after reading this excellent blogpost today.
Poor Woman
Kindness, hospitality, warm with hands
around the mug of basic coffee
Feet shuffle on the neat coloured rug
While the ears listen
and the scribing fills notepad sheets
A corner of the sofa fades under
carefully placed smartening azure throws
The hint of vacuum cleaner air remains
How is your life?
What does life like this mean?
A sweep-back of hair while
considering the confidences given
The admissions of hard days
A little tremolo in the account of when
toilet roll is lacking
But you can still live? Survive?
Celebrating or taking part in our society
cannot be given up. No
What we can give, in time, comes back full again
It took long months, a year, but the ticket was bought
A greeting hug was finally grasped with her
emigrated sister at a long haul arrivals gate
But, with the final handshake at the terraced doors,
simple requirements are those pencilled to fit
Appearing under the banner "Our borough needs!"
A summation is given of the Poor Woman
The picture chosen has sad eyes
and another campaign column is filled
It doesn't take long. An anonymous tip
"She's a fraud. A charlatan. Here's what she hid:
Not poor at all, you'll never guess
Swanned off on a trip of a lifetime down under
Some of us can only dream"
So dream. Dream on
I have a dream
where every human is equal, is given stature
Hasn't bought it, put it on the card
paraded it, proved it at the school gate
Behind those designer-look NHS glasses
and bargain clothes lay prized skills and
a fighting heart
that will not
stay down
(c) HC Hunter
Helen, I'm sorry this is a tad late, as comments go, but I have to say it has been an extraordinarily busy year for me and mine. As you well know, family comes first.
ReplyDelete'Poor Woman' hits hard on a subject close to my heart, which mixes class issues with a monetarist / materialist culture of have, have not, wannabe and want to appear to have. One of the most hateful tendencies that human beings have is to judge - and I know I do it as well, I guess we all do. But we can never judge other people, unless we know EVERYTHING about them, which, of course, we never will!
I recall that Oxfam blogpost and actually posted a comment on it in early February. You're right, it is an excellent article.
Your poem hits the spot and the concluding lines are simply brilliant as well as moving.
"..Behind those designer-look NHS glasses
and bargain clothes lay prized skills and
a fighting heart
that will not
stay down"
This is very special.
Thank you. I really appreciate your generous comments, as well as the glimpse into your current thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI have many many thoughts on us, the multiple "we", as we look forward from the split second present moment. It is fleeting, yet it has permanence. And right now in these days it seems heavier than weight can measure.
But my ability to write is minimal and affected by my health. In one sense it is frustrating to only be able to write in Tweets and occasional poems. In another sense it seems essential to minimise my words right now, not waste them.
"One of the most hateful tendencies that human beings have is to judge": Yes, exactly, and the words we use in that process are crucial. May my words be few.
Shalom, my friend, to you and yours