For a young lady by Cologne Station, may she be warm tonight.


feet

at first I did not see her
crumpled as old rags and flotsam
crouched beneath the wall
at sea amidst the debris
of others littered walks
all she saw
if see she did
were feet
just feet
OK yours and my feet
but feet all the same
not lips
or eyes
nor tender arms
not even smiles or frowns
for she had given looking up
a million feet before
and as she bent
with hands cupped out
for passing change to catch
some feet walked by in pity
some in scorn
most did not even notice her
treading by her body
yet she was some mother's daughter
she was some daughter's Mum
she lived the future in the past
her present was undone





Poetry by Peter Humphreys
Read 776 times
Written on 2009-05-23 at 22:11

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normalil
Her present is indeed undone, and there are so many just like her. In the midst of your own turmoil you still have the compassion to write about her. You are always in my thoughts and prayers Peter.
2009-06-16


Eli The PoetBay support member heart!
I come from a safe and comfortable area in Southern Australia, and had I not travelled abroad for a year in 1990 I would not have recognised this haunting portrayal of the girl with the crowd passing by. I hope she is warm tonight too. Thanks for sharing this.
2009-05-24


jenks The PoetBay support member heart!
as usual you have been walking through life with your eyes wide open...your imagination and empathy flow well through this work...good work!
2009-05-23