As some of you may know I am a member of Gather.com and this morning I received an email from the poet Barbary Chaapel (who also read A Son Called Gabriela few months ago and enjoyed it) to say she was much moved about a post I had written about the homeless I saw a few months ago in NYC and, as this is an issue she holds close to her heart, she dedicated a poem entitled 'Invisible' to me.
I have never had a poem dedicated to me and I am both speechless and much moved.
As many of you may not know Gather.com, I am posting her poem here so you may read it.
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for Damian McNichol
INVISIBLE
Old eyes.
Lower teeth sunk sideways
Like old tomb stones.
The things her mouth
Won't tell;
Keep away the man.
I see her plainly.
This season, the color of winter,
She is grey limbo.
What she does
Does not define her.
Can you not imagine,
Once, on her hands,
Scent of cherry and almond,
This hungry ghost,
Waiting for a spoonful of sugar.
[technorati: Barbary Chaapel, poetry, homelessness, NYC, Gather
4 comments:
You never know what will come from true compassion. It is good that you are touched by the tribute. You deserve it. Your writing is always informed by compassion, even when you've "got your dander up."
hi damian siobhan just checking in on you. bet this a surprise. the joys of online communication have just hit the homeland. ps i have read the blog re mum and my celebrations. thank you for sharing my culinary habits with all your readers. hope to see you soon. little very thin extremely svelte sis. xxx
Thanks Carol. 'Me get my gander up :)
What a great surprise, Siobhan. Now I'll have to watch what I say about family on the blog!!!! I'll call you ;)
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