He Ain't Heavy

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Sun, 16 Jun 2024
  • 632 reads
14 comments
 
I thought I had heard
of that phrase before
I listened to the song
by the Hollies,
and I wasn't wrong.
 
It was mentioned
in a book written
by James Wells
in eighteen-eighty-four;
that's why it rang a bell.
 
In it, the author tells
the story of a wee lass,
who was slim as an elf,
carrying a young boy
nearly as big as herself.
 
As she trudged along
her thin body implied
she wasn't very strong;
when asked if she was tired
she simply replied:
 
“He's na heavy, he's mi brother.”
And her message was clear;
be willing to carry the burden
of those we hold dear
and also help each other.
 
 
 
© Luigi Pagano 2024
Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Historical Fiction
Biography
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Very good IP response Luigi. I hadn't heard of James Wells before so googled him.

I'm not sure if this is a typo here?

“He's na heavy, he's mi brother.”

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Claudine. According to Wikipedia, In a 1918 publication by Ralph Waldo Trine titled The Higher Powers of Mind and Spirit, Trine relates the following anecdote: "Do you know that incident in connection with the little Scottish girl? She was trudging along, carrying as best she could a boy younger, but it seemed almost as big as she herself, when one remarked to her how heavy he must be for her to carry, when instantly came the reply: 'He's na heavy. He's mi brither.'
I have only altered 'brither' to brother to rhyme with 'other'.

Best wishes, Luigi x

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Luigi do you know the song "two little boys?" Very sentimental. Beautiful. Neil Diamond does one too.

Firemen too do it daily, strong men. Carrying you over the shoulder from the smoke and flames, they call it "skaap dra" I think, "sheep carry?" A noble profession, unsung heroes.

Keep well! &&

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Yes, Nolan, I think I've heard it. Many stories are told through songs and, as you rightly say, the word 'heavy' can describe other things and professions.

Keep well, Luigi

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Dig the crazy weed dude! Heavy man heavy! Going like a Boeing!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for retelling that story. Very pertinent. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

My thanks to you, Rhiannon, for reading and commenting. Much appreciated.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

You've got it Luigi - a pefect response to the IP; and the image reminded me of when, years ago, I was passed by a Sherpa running downhill and carrying a sick Japanese in basket on his back

Dougie Moody

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Doougie. When I saw the word 'heavy' as the Inspiration Point, my immediate reaction was to be reminded of that famous expression used in the song by the Hollies and thought of researching its origins. I was surprised that the episode was mentioned in 1884 in a book by James Wells entitled The Parables of Jesus. I was taken by the photo accompanying the poem as it symbolises the burden the girl carries.

Best wishes, Luigu

 

Submitted by Nolan on

What direction were you going? I wonder really &

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

"any which way but loose" smiley

 

Submitted by marandina on

I wasn't aware of that story so thank you for re-telling it so eloquently, Luigi. An important point, well made. Keep well. Paul

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Paul. Many songs are based on old stories and true, or alleged, incidents and the listeners are unaware of this. The ABC's Inspiration Points are the drivers that make me dig into the past and find the relevant, sometimes obscure, facts. that can be rehashed. Nothing is said that hasn't been said before but we can use our ingenuity to refashion old ideas.

Best, Luigi.