Monday, May 11, 2009

Streaming

                                                                            Margaret Gosden

My friend, Margaret created this work, which she entitled 'Refugees'.She was inspired by the refugees in the Vietnam War, but I think her work applies equally to refugees at any time, in any place. I like the way the figures are caught in  powerful currents, some emotional, and some physical. As I write, cosily, in my study, millions upon millions of people are streaming.....who knows where?

STREAMING

Is it a sandstorm that buffets?
Is it an ocean that must be crossed?
Is it icy rain sheeting the view?
Is it the speeding traffic
In some huge strange city?
Something streams by them.
*
Is it the wind behind their backs
Pushing them on?
Or the wind in front
Pushing them back
To the home of their hearts?
*
They cannot bear to look straight ahead;
For there they would see nothingness.
They cannot bear to look back;
For there they would see everything.
*
So they move like crabs,
Looking sideways,
Sheltering their faces from
Sand,
Rain,
Wind,
Hunger,
Heartbreak.
*
They stream.
*
Millions of them.
Streaming across continents and oceans.
Human-beings streaming
Like wind,
Like sand,
Like rain,
Like the sea.
*
More of Margaret's work can be seen here:

5 comments:

Jinksy said...

Like the way this captures the feel of mass exodus and linear movement.

anthonynorth said...

That's a powerful interpretation. I liked it.

Darlene said...

No one can truly imagine the heartbreak endured by the people fleeing a disaster. You have captured it very well.

Mari Meehan said...

The frightening thing is the multitudes of people in the multitudes of countries we see nightly on our news who could be the inspiration for the picture even today. Powerful!

Kat said...

Such a touching and powerful poem -for the refugees, capturing theor woes.

Margaret work is a marvel. Was fascinated.