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:
Like the way this captures the feel of mass exodus and linear movement.
That's a powerful interpretation. I liked it.
No one can truly imagine the heartbreak endured by the people fleeing a disaster. You have captured it very well.
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!
Such a touching and powerful poem -for the refugees, capturing theor woes.
Margaret work is a marvel. Was fascinated.
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