Homework 14th September - Misguided Judgement
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 1:06 pm
My apologies that this is a bit long - I don't know where it came from in my head, but it seemed to develop into a more lengthy tale than I'd originally intended!
Misguided Judgement
They watched as rising water seemed to sweep the town away,
then later huddled helplessly, a picture of dismay.
Relentless rain had fallen many days upon the land
and businesses and homes were wrecked, submerged in silt and sand.
They stood around debating loudly what to tackle first,
and some were saying prayers whilst others simply spat and cursed.
Cacophony of noise! Confusion, fear – and then a shout
as suddenly two modest vessels calmly floated out.
They hadn’t spent much time around those men with coloured skin,
who likewise had avoided town with dogged discipline;
they hadn’t any interest in their culture or their ways—
their blind ambition solely finding opals in those days.
But now when four of these appeared from nowhere on the scene
to make their way across the flood, determined yet serene,
the white men glared suspiciously, with not a little pique,
as many of the townsfolk felt they had a bloody cheek.
“Well, what the blazes?” spat the mayor, “they need to wait for me
to state it’s safe and work out what procedure ought to be!”
The blokes agreed, and grumbled, “We should launch a swift pursuit;
that’s Ernie’s store they’re heading to – is this a plan to loot?
The grousing had intensified, some spoiling for a fight,
when one canoe just vanished round the corner out of sight;
they stared with curiosity, grew dangerously cross,
complaining they should follow and instruct them who was boss.
Abruptly then the craft emerged, and slowly made its way
towards the other cautiously, with something to convey;
then every voice fell silent as the two men passed with care
a tiny bundle wrapped in fur - and crying split the air.
An infant’s cry! The murmurs rose again in grave concern—
continued as the crowd observed the second vessel turn….
Two women brought him home as all stood stunned in disbelief,
and passed him to his mother, who was numb with shocked relief.
With downcast eyes, ashamed of bad assumptions they’d all made,
astounded at their ignorance of needing precious aid,
their words of thanks seemed trite in light of what those four had done!
The women merely smiled – a happy end to task begun.
They turned and paddled back to join their waiting men once more,
and disappeared towards the camp as silent as before,
to leave a message in their wake that no-one could gainsay,
which forged a new and lasting bond that still remains today.
Recalling now the massive storms of nineteen fifty-three,
it’s not so much the damage to their town that they all see,
as how their attitudes were changed by one heroic feat
of caring native neighbours, on that fully flooded street.
The image of that toddler, snowy skin against a chest
of flawless, shining ebony - a woman’s beating breast,
remains with them forever as a priceless lesson learned…
And me? I am that white man’s child so lovingly returned.
© Catherine Lee, 2020
Misguided Judgement
They watched as rising water seemed to sweep the town away,
then later huddled helplessly, a picture of dismay.
Relentless rain had fallen many days upon the land
and businesses and homes were wrecked, submerged in silt and sand.
They stood around debating loudly what to tackle first,
and some were saying prayers whilst others simply spat and cursed.
Cacophony of noise! Confusion, fear – and then a shout
as suddenly two modest vessels calmly floated out.
They hadn’t spent much time around those men with coloured skin,
who likewise had avoided town with dogged discipline;
they hadn’t any interest in their culture or their ways—
their blind ambition solely finding opals in those days.
But now when four of these appeared from nowhere on the scene
to make their way across the flood, determined yet serene,
the white men glared suspiciously, with not a little pique,
as many of the townsfolk felt they had a bloody cheek.
“Well, what the blazes?” spat the mayor, “they need to wait for me
to state it’s safe and work out what procedure ought to be!”
The blokes agreed, and grumbled, “We should launch a swift pursuit;
that’s Ernie’s store they’re heading to – is this a plan to loot?
The grousing had intensified, some spoiling for a fight,
when one canoe just vanished round the corner out of sight;
they stared with curiosity, grew dangerously cross,
complaining they should follow and instruct them who was boss.
Abruptly then the craft emerged, and slowly made its way
towards the other cautiously, with something to convey;
then every voice fell silent as the two men passed with care
a tiny bundle wrapped in fur - and crying split the air.
An infant’s cry! The murmurs rose again in grave concern—
continued as the crowd observed the second vessel turn….
Two women brought him home as all stood stunned in disbelief,
and passed him to his mother, who was numb with shocked relief.
With downcast eyes, ashamed of bad assumptions they’d all made,
astounded at their ignorance of needing precious aid,
their words of thanks seemed trite in light of what those four had done!
The women merely smiled – a happy end to task begun.
They turned and paddled back to join their waiting men once more,
and disappeared towards the camp as silent as before,
to leave a message in their wake that no-one could gainsay,
which forged a new and lasting bond that still remains today.
Recalling now the massive storms of nineteen fifty-three,
it’s not so much the damage to their town that they all see,
as how their attitudes were changed by one heroic feat
of caring native neighbours, on that fully flooded street.
The image of that toddler, snowy skin against a chest
of flawless, shining ebony - a woman’s beating breast,
remains with them forever as a priceless lesson learned…
And me? I am that white man’s child so lovingly returned.
© Catherine Lee, 2020
One of the great guiding principles of life Never Assume !!