A collection of sixteen poems written in free verse describing people who have greatly influenced the author and the lessons learned from them.
Who influences us in our lives? How do they influence us? Whom do we call an enemy? Whom do we call a friend? And why? Why do we have relationships at all? These are the questions Helena Harper eloquently asks in her collection of poems that examines the relationships in her own life. She has had to rethink her definition of 'enemy', not least because her father was English and her mother German and they met in the aftermath of World War II in Germany. She has also been forced to rethink her definition of 'friend'. If we learn something from someone that helps us to grow and develop as human beings, becoming more understanding and compassionate in the process, then surely most people we meet in life will be our 'friends'? Through the memories and experiences of the people in Helena's life, others can hopefully reflect on their own and maybe come to understand themselves and their relationships better.
CONTENT
The Baby — a small champion for a new way, a new life, a new world of humanity? A sign of hope that in the future we can finally be free from our present, crazy, violent insanity?
The Mother — refusing to wallow in past tragedies, disappointments and strife, living out the autumn of her life in a blaze of vibrant colour...
The Father — insatiable curiosity driving him to devour books galore on history and science, philosophy and war...
The Grandmother — a gifted, smiling soul, spreading love and happiness to all, making the best of everything meeting her in life’s rich, unpredictable ball...
The Grandfather — and so he leaves this life on an obscure Russian field for a cause lost in the realms of time, his coffin the mud, his grave the blown-up earth...
The Foreign Uncle — washing each morning the body in snows of freezing, glacial white; “Crazy Harry!” the others say, but it saves him from ghastly frostbite...
The English Uncle — a man not tolerant of fools, but with the ladies a favourite, make no doubt — see, they all come running when he shouts!
The Elder Sister — a humble, compassionate soul instinctively in touch with her nature purely divine, a privilege indeed to call her a sister of mine
The Brother-in-Law — proud school governor, then local councillor, occupations well-suited to a man with numberless acquaintances and a propensity to talk nigh on incessantly
The Niece — she’ll gladly give all a go, exploring possibilities infinitely diverse, so she can give latent, hidden talents a chance to unfold and grow
The Nephew — a big baby with a big appetite, so different from the sister...enthusiasm glowing in the face, enjoyment pouring from the eyes, everyday commonplace sights simply marvellous delights...
The Colleague — faithful, quiet and diligent, modest, unassuming, reliable and efficient
The Boss — acting perhaps would have suited her more, for sincerity is not a trait that brands this soul...organised and efficient? Don’t make me laugh!...
The Physiotherapist — a teddy bear of a man with face soft and round, healing hands flowing up and down the spine...if we all gave of ourselves as this man does, imagine the world we would create! Each of us treating strangers as our other half, where selfishness was forgotten, a thing of the past...
The Massage Therapist — every thought word and action designed to meet her children’s needs, yet now despite it all the heart tears apart and bleeds…
The Tennis Director — the once lithe, young body of twenty or so years marked now by middle-age spread and dubious knees...
N.B. The book will shortly be coming out as a paperbook with photos and an extra poem (The Adopted Aunt) - so watch this space!
Excerpt
THE ENGLISH UNCLE
A younger brother of the father,
tall and slim,
good-looking to boot,
charming, sophisticated,
intelligent, too,
witticisms rolling from the tongue
that cuts like ice when the mood strikes,
a man not tolerant of fools,
but with the ladies a favorite,
make no doubt,
see — they all come running
when he shouts!
A military career he has,
like the elder brother before,
but him it fits like a glove,
for conservative he is in attitude and taste
and to conform is not a hard task.
His interests are “right” and proper
for a gentleman officer —
rugby and sport of all kinds,
that’s what he enjoys and likes,
not engines and cars and
racing dirty motorbikes!
So superiors smile
and enable the young man
to get on well and quick,
and the elder brother looks on,
eyes spiced with an envious gleam:
“That’s typical Joe for you,
everything falls right into his lap,
absolutely bang on cue.”
He marries at last,
the pick of the bunch most certainly his,
but in the end to family pressure he bows,
wedding a girl known for years
from just across the street,
a marriage of convenience in fact,
no great passionate affair,
but they rub along as friends,
for to Joe it would be unheard of
to break the marriage bonds.
A successful career at an end,
retiring to a spacious house
by the sea
with Peggy, his wife,
and Jasper, the dog,
a wonderful, lovable Labrador,
to lead a life of leisure,
worry-free,
for there are no children to concern,
and money abounds
from an army pension generous
and the wife’s family
successful in the brewing business.
In this retired retreat his nieces visit,
children of that rebel, elder brother,
and see an uncle tall and fit,
sailing and golfing away the hours,
a witty, interesting, likable man,
though a paragon he certainly is not.
Had he fought against
that foreign uncle on some distant shore
during those warring days?
And being on victory’s side
is deserving of a niece’s love
whilst the other must be despised?
If this is nonsense then war is, too,
for the niece sees but family:
two men,
human and fallible both,
yet each worthy in equal measure
of friendship and true affection.
Aunt Peggy appears,
short and rotund,
a contrast so huge and immense
to the husband of elegance,
but a cheerful, gentle-hearted soul she is,
full of generosity and kindness.
But it isn’t long
before health and heart fail,
leaving a husband saddened
and dog with downcast tail.
After a while a new female companion,
but a second marriage
is not this uncle’s cup of tea.
And then the news is heard —
he’s dying of cancer,
it’s gone too far,
it seems that this time
the good fortune of earlier years
has walked out the door
and left it ajar.
But there’s still time
for the two brothers to spend together,
revisiting the haunts of their youth,
and part not just as brothers but as friends,
petty jealousies and discord forgotten
in the warmth of brotherly companionship
and common memories of play and laughter,
enjoying mutual stimulation
from engaged and active minds.
We none of us know
when the ultimate sunset will come —
surely then we should strive
to put old scores to rest
at the first chance we get,
so we can leave this world with
the heart securely set
on harmony, love and peace,
having caused hostility, alienation,
hatred and anger to cease.
The news comes
of the uncle’s death,
but the brother hears it not,
for already he lies unconscious
in that hospital in London,
taking his own slow leave of life.
Yet there are numerous ways to communicate
and it seems perhaps the brother has “heard”,
for a week later he too says
his last, final farewell.
The conformist and rebel
once more together
in true brotherly accord?
Who amongst us can tell?
Copyright © 2008 Helena Harper
|
