Time Portraits
poem by:
Ann Parks
Written
on Aug 30, 2017
I was young and in Paris sitting on a coach. Suddenly I saw a majestic bride ascending into church the gentle rippling of her dress train like milk flowing upwards upon the steps. This footage you too may have seen The Nazi Officer prods the old woman's face with the handle of his stick and with it pushes up her chin to intimidate, to shame. But she is calm does not react as if she thinks it's not me you hate it's some mythical concept not me , no not me. My grandparents photo 1942 or 43 he's in uniform on precious leave they spend a weekend together she has curly hair exactly the same hair falling in the same way parted in the same place in my daughter's photo across the distance of the room across the distance of time. In London where I lived I stepped out into the road to cross without looking while the traffic had stopped. A limo was there in front of me but as I looked just feet in front of me inside the limo The Queen herself (caught in traffic) looked right at me quite searchingly I think now and I felt her appraisal - unimpressed!
Tags: imagery,
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Cecilia Crasto commented:
A different time, a different age, you have expressed brilliantly in this poem, the memories captured and stored in your mind...excellent write Ann.
Christopher Russon
commented:
Really well written poem Ann.
I can remember the footage of the Nazi officer prodding the old woman's face .
Sadly things have never changed,
A previous user
commented:
Lives in various stages.
One of distant days.
One of different ways.
A poem for the ages.
Thank you kindly.
Ja Ja
commented:
Lives in various stages.
One of distant days.
One of different ways
A poem for the ages.
Thank you kindly
Frank Hornby .
commented on Jan 10, 2019 at 11:20am
The imagery in this poem.....those bundle of little words.......brilliant! Ann, brilliant!....
