Goodbye, for Now

 

But here, at the final barricade,

British customs officials snatch his brown arms,

force him to depart, his feet scar

the concrete in struggle: six, I cling to his legs.

 

My grandparents, aunts, uncles all wait

huddled together, crying. My mum urges me back.

But a strand of his frizzy hair brushes my cheek,

a moment, a lone tear in the deluge.

 

Then, even against the restraint of five men,

two arms are drawn from a worn

Andorra pullover, quick as rifles,

‘Suego Huego  muy una y uniquo ou livre.’

 

For a second, we cling to each other

tight as a hammock ties to trees. ‘Adois Papa.’

He is bundled into a van for deportation.

For months I recall the smell of Lama wool.

 

In mum’s mind, he stood blindfolded in a circle

Of tropical sunrise that bled red through the sky

Ringed by a firing squad in a city square

All palatial buildings and palm trees.

 

Charged with holding beliefs alien to theirs.

Seven years old, fatherless, I cried –

Cursed your deportation, those who signed

your expulsion but still I imagined you

 

drinking sambuca in an earthly paradise

Neither of us were right, you slipped somehow

Into a vast and camouflaged rainforest

In a canopy of trees you wrote to us, unsafe, alive.

 

Reviews

[Carrie Manor]

Oh My, how beautifully written, I haven't read a good poem so passionately tuned to the thoughts of the characters for a long time! Keep it up!

[Mandi]

you are a good writer!

[emmajoy]

Memories remain with us for our entire lives, from a few we learn hatred, we pray that from many we learn love.

Your words ring bells in my mind... ' still I imagined you .. drinking sambuca in an earthly paradise ..
Neither of us were right, you slipped somehow .. Into a vast and camouflaged rainforest .. In a canopy of trees you wrote to us, unsafe, alive.'

Your writing is incredibly intense, even in its gentle moments.

[wolfsshadow25]

wow you r an amazing writer i enjoyed reading this

[Vanessa Whiteley]

What was the inspiration for this one Sel? I wonderful piece of imaginative story telling? And that is an amazing twist at the end both tragic and hopeful in one. Wonderful.

Neither of us were right, you slipped somehow

Into a vast and camouflaged rainforest

In a canopy of trees you wrote to us, unsafe, alive.

[__Flaw__]

Now we have two, a story teller who is a poetess mingled into one. And yet again a wonderful piece of creativity, so easy to visualize. And as usual, I came, I saw and got conquered. well done. :)))

[fireblossom]

Your training guides your gift. This is serious poetry. You tell the facts and they touch the heart. I learn from you.

[Wildfleour]

Gandre sent me here and I see why. You have a real talent and I agree with her comment.

[Gandré]

Your reflections never sound hollow or meaningless and I see here a deep morality within sadness for grandfather you - didn't know.. here you have been a highly sensitive poetess, you re-live scenes you didn't experienced.... through imagination....this nightmare world still exists, still exists. wonderful writing.

[Donald Meikle]

That little touch of hope has shone or smoldered in much of your stuff of late.
Everton forever!!