Today I Wrote a Poem

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Thu, 03 Apr 2014
  • 25221 reads
18 comments
 
No poet laureate – no literary genius...no Carol Ann Duffy...
except, this one’s for you, Angelique.  I’d always loved
that name – swore blind if ever I had a kid, I’d call her that; 
 
Angel, her pet name...naturally, and only yesterday, in Tesco, 
a woman’s child was lost...your namesake, as it happened.
 
Angelique ! she yells, in desperation – mascara streaking
her cheeks. Just standing there, she is, in the middle
of the frozen-food aisle.
 
Felt sorry for her, although...couldn’t help thinking
I never got no pity...not then, not never. Not a thing
you talked about – not in them days.
 
Oh, she found her little darling, eventually... 
by the sweet-stand at the checkout. She was luckier 
than me.  
 
What about my own little girl? And then
it hit me. Fifty – you would have been, tomorrow, 
and I can’t even picture you.
 
Don’t even have the luxury of knowing if your eyes were blue
or green.  What colour your hair was...if you had any.  If you favoured
Winston Churchill...me, or more your dad...
 
You see, they told me not to look when I had you.
Wouldn’t so much as let me hold you...said it was for the best.
 
Snatched you away from me; they who trashed you 
like yesterday’s papers , that’s why, today, I wrote a poem
called, Angels Don’t Die...
 
Oh, but they do, don’t they?  Wrapped up
in the Evening News.
Certificate 15
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual
Biography
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Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Thank goodness attitudes have changed. But you have put this all so well, Tina. I've read it a few times now and get something more each time. 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, so much, Bee...and yes, times and attitudes have changed, but it's amazing how relatively recently that change came about.

Your thoughts, always highly valued, and I really do appreciate your sharing them.

Tinasmiley

 

Submitted by Linda Wigzell Cress on

This poem has it all, and says it all Tina. So sad.  As Bee says, things have changed for the better.

Linda

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

My sincere thanks to you, Linda, and in this case, things surely have changed for the better.

Hope you have a peaceful evening.

Tina

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Tina

I can't imagine what it must have been like for somebody to have their baby taken away - and not even have seen what it looked like. Lovely poem

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you, for reading this Jean and for sharing your thoughts, and I agree, it is totally unimaginable.

Hope you have a peaceful evening.

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

So very painful and stripping. I'm so sorry to read this, not the poem, the trauma. The poem's got a matter of fact style that conveys the agony safely, somehow, but I can't put my finger on it. This democratic society is steeped in inhumane behaviour and treatment. I loved this and the name Angelique.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

More than appreciated, Vera. Thank you.

Tina

 

Submitted by prettyrose on

smileyOh Tina, This is such a powerful, beautiful, well expressed poem, yet heart breaking, and tears are streaming down my  facecrying.

They were terrible times and no one then or now should face that loss and pain and told what they should do by anyone, in any decade or century! Thankfully the way society treats human beings in these situations have changed, however sadly some peoples own opinion of times like that haven't, different era and up bringing led to so much physical and emotional trauma that no matter how many years pass, can never been taken away or forgotten.

Sadly then and now, some people/society don't think about the personal impact an action or words can do to someone,that can leave an ever lasting empty dark space in their heart and sole, that can never be replaced or healed.I know this all to well Tina, different circumstances though..

Sorry for going on, I felt for you and this poem brought back memories. And your Angelique would, I am sure be proud of!!!!! and Like Vera said,loved the name!!!!

Take care

Trish x

smiley Keep Smiling

Keep Writing xxx

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Trish, thank you, so much for sharing your thoughts.  

Terrible times they were indeed, and it hardly seems possible to imagine that things such as this could ever have happened. But they did, and thankfully there were lessons learned, however painfully, and times and attitudes have changed since those days, thank god.

Tina

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

An awful tale, very well told.

The stories of abandoned children who are foundlings are real too. Years ago I knew someone through my voluntary community work who had been found in a park. The hospital staff named him John Greenwood. He was 20 when I knew him, a little bit wild and had recently come out of prison where he had been arrested and jailed for drunk and attitude whilst resisting arrest for drunkenness in town. He immediately found a building site job renovating a local pub. He loved to show off his John Travolta dancing. He owned one smart shirt and pair of dress trousers and danced very well.

My heart goes out to the mother in the poem. Always a mother even though she never saw her angelic baby girl againheart    Elsie

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I thank you for sharing this, Elsie.  So very sad.

Tina

 

Submitted by Jessiibear on

:( so sad, so true, so brilliant.

Jess

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Jess...so very true.

Thank you so very much for your words.

Tina

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

This is so powerful. Pulls no punches right to the bitter end. Thank you for sharing this - it couldn't have been easy but it is a wonderful tribute. Forgive me if this is too forward, but I think she would have been proud.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I think so, and I hope so, too, lc.  

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Tina,

I only just found this poem of a parent who has their child taken away. Reading all the comments, I can tell it struck a chord, as it did with me too.

Pulls at the heart strings and very well written.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Jenny.  More than appreciatedsmiley

Tina