The Park
By Nabila Suriya
Location: St Mary’s Park, Bury New Road, Prestwich
I am in the park,
holding myself.
My thick fleece
Is your arm
Wrapped around me.
I look around
And I see
Every child, every girl
With a father,
Complete.
I fix my eyes,
Concealing five years
Of tears and I see
My child looking
At you.
Her curls have stopped
Bouncing. Her almond
Eyes are still, as is her
Tiny body.
She looks at me,
points at you
and asks
‘mummy, is that my daddy?’
Nabila Suriya is a teacher who is studying for an MA in creative writing.
Stats:
July 21, 2009 at 12:17 am, Belinda Johnston said:
I really like this poem. It says so much in a few words.
love the image of the daughter’s curls, like life has been sapped out if them, the bounce has diminished because she wonders why she is different, and curiously and directly like a child does ‘ she asks the question’
This poems conjures up many thoughts, and like the idea of the park location, and the wind and the trees and the wide open spaces.
Enjoyed reading this very much.
Belinda
July 22, 2009 at 9:04 pm, CathM said:
Well done you! Very touching poem. Succinct and poignant.
July 31, 2009 at 10:29 am, Joel K said:
Agree with previous. The thing about the park is that in the better weather, with the benches and sports spaces, it is very much a parents and children’s place. It’s a site-specific poem.