“Right!” I announce, full of gusto,
to a sea of wide-eyed faces,
bare feet scuffing scrubby ground
as they vie for make-shift desks,
nothing more than upturned tea-chests,
pens and pencils poised at the ready.
“What I’d like you all to do, is draw
a portrait of yourselves, then write your name,
so I can start to get to know you better.”
Dimpled toes court the dust. Pencils
hover in mid-air like bees over ox-eyed daisies,
hands frantically scratch heads, except one
that seeks my attention.
“Miss, here’s mine, but the rest would rather draw
each other, if that’s allowed?” asks one little dot.
The penny drops. “Why thank you,” I say, delve
in my handbag for my mirror. “Maisha, come closer,
I’ve something to show you.” Maisha giggles, smiles
from ear to ear, just like the sun coming up,
like she’d never before seen her own reflection.
“It’s better than the river, Miss, no ripples. Say, Miss,
may I keep it? I’ll swap you for a biro!” On reflection,
I found myself thinking of all those things we take
for granted … like having the time to be a child.
Comments
Bradene | October 14, 2008 - 09:11
This is a smasher Tina, you really know how to show with your telling. Lovely one. Val x
Silver Spun Sand | October 14, 2008 - 10:33
Thanks so much for reading Val. Show don't tell, aren't we all told;-)
This poem is especially dear to me as it was drawn from Andrea's exchange visit of teachers to the Gambia a couple of years ago. She had many heart-rending stories to tell of her experiences, this being but one.
It's lovely to share it and I am glad you enjoyed it.
Tina:-)
jennifer | October 14, 2008 - 13:49
A lesson to us all, I think.
Espcecially love the line:
'having the time to be a child' - missing in England?
MistakenMagic | October 14, 2008 - 14:52
'Dimpled toes court the dust' - such a unique image!
Another thought-provoking and exquisite piece Tina :)
Magic x
Silver Spun Sand | October 14, 2008 - 15:37
Hi there Jennifer. Good of you to read. Yes, I think you are so right in what you say. My grandson is thirteen going on thirty. He has just bought himself a trilby ... only trouble is he doesn't have any other gear to go with it. Tracky bottoms and a sweatshirt don't really set it off to its full advantage.
Tina:-)
Silver Spun Sand | October 14, 2008 - 15:42
Magic - thank you. I have missed you of late. I would imagine those essays of yours are keeping you busy.
Yes, there is much to think about in this poem and indeed, my daughter told me so many more thought-provoking stories of her short time in Gambia.
One thing that is uppermost in my memory was the day she asked them to write a story about anything they liked. The choice was entirely theirs. They were totally lost though. Never having been used to the luxury of making choices, in the end she had to give them each a topic to write about. Sure does make one think.
Tina