Looking through Circumstances
is a study of sorrow-
black sparrow eyes are somber lit
checks are red rouged to hide
skeletal shoulders slumping slowly
she hardly notices dappled morning light
nor flowers blooming fresh by her chair-
her eyebrows are stitched to worries
over the dollars she sends every 2 weeks-
her family leans on her-
husband, child, mother, siblings, nieces &
nephews, the list of needs is long
when all she wants to do is travel back home
& be a mom & wife & eldest daughter instead
of primary breadwinner
in a foreign country, working as lowly
paid migrant, where her alcoholic absentee father's eyes
are blurry, hers is firm in faith, unmeasurable
where her husband's chin is frail, hers is iron pointed -
every night, she prays that she stays healthy
enough to work & save, work & save -
last time i saw her, I reminded her of the silly
things we did when she stayed with us briefly
& for a moment, she was young carefree
woman with flowers clipped on her hair-
if i had a paintbrush, i'd have framed this moment
to remind her
the sun is blushing yellow & vibrant
- & for me, an instruction that this is a gift -
Posted for OpenLinkNight of D'verse Poets Pub ~ Thanks for the visit ~
I will be featuring this artist this weekend at Real Toads ~ Watch out for it ~
Shared with WriteEditPublish- What's in a Face ~
A bombshell of a poetic, face-reading one of the poet's best techniques, and you found a novella in Marly's face; your tiny glimpse of a life lived for others, distracted by your open arms & heart for one afternoon, one moment; nice job, Grace.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the poetic reply Glenn ~
DeleteWow, don't get the privilege of being #1 too often; way cool.
ReplyDeleteHa..ha..smiling back at you Glenn ~
Deletei love the stories you read in her face...migrant workers lead a tough life... missing family and home country and knowing they have to be strong cause their works helps the fam to survive - this is immense pressure... oh and i love the artwork..
ReplyDeletethey do, thank you Claudia ~ Lisa's art is an inspirtion ~
DeleteYou show with your skill how a life's story can be told with ever so few words...skilfully told.. and the woes of migrant workers well known, still when it comes down to the individual lever so much sadness... Look forward to the artwork.. really.
ReplyDeletethe life ages one quickly ~ thank you Bjorn ~
DeleteI love her story...the story you told here. Makes me want to know her and what made her, "her".
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful narrative you relate tells as much about you as it does the subject. It's difficult to wrest so much detail and insight under any circumstances. This is a great showcase for your classic talent. Very nice work.
ReplyDeleteSteve K.
Most migrant workers do not lead an easy life. So many people at home depend on their hard work. They must be under a lot of pressure as they know how vital it is for them to stay healthy.
ReplyDelete"& for a moment, she was young carefree
woman with flowers clipped on her hair-" bitter sweet image!
your portrait of Mary's life is both gritty and tender...such a wonderful balance between the two. What you have read in this face is truly poetic.
ReplyDeleteGrace a really in depth and interesting story you've woven. Great use of imagery. >KB
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and powerful with great depth.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful, poignant story... told perfectly through your fabulous imagery. A gift, indeed.
ReplyDeleteresponsibility weighs heavy when you are trying to take care of a family...and sometimes have to do what it takes...which is not easy...i worked out of town for 9 months apart from my fam once....so i know that pain....
ReplyDeleteIn so many ways this mirrors my grandmother's life.
ReplyDeletebut it amplified her gratitude for the small things in life..
when it finally came time to rest..
as opposed to those..who did not work for that eventual
rest .. quite as hard...
And then in her 60's when her father died..
She became a painter..when almost blind..
and once again..put forth her immeasurable
WILL..
That kept her spinning alive more decades to come...
i can only hope that the destiny of this young lady..will drift
a path of bliss..like this..
as well...Spinning into reality.
This story begins as a sad story, but I like the reminscing about early happy times when she was carefree!
ReplyDeleteIt is a gift: friendship, joy and bringing joy to one you read and love and respect. And this poem too is a joy, its slow framing and filling in of the detail essential to its main idea. You have your paintbrush. I look forward to the new feature in the Garden!
ReplyDeleteWow. What a portrait. And contrast. My heart feels her heavy. And it is all gift , each carefree day we have...
ReplyDelete"her eyebrows are stitched to worries...." those words say so much. Strong interpretation of the image. Well done.
ReplyDeletethe plight of the migrant worker, beautifully rendered with dignity ... we should do that for our friends ... remind them of the joyful, carefree moments, so they can remember and be encouraged during times of trouble. I really like this poem, Grace.
ReplyDeleteWell captured. I know this story all too well as I work with the Chinese that manufacture all of our electronics. They have similar stories. I think you've captured their conundrum well. Thanks
ReplyDelete"eyebrows stitched to worries"
ReplyDeletelove this line!
Being the soul earner, parted from family is a heavy responsibility. Makes those carefree moments all the more precious.
ReplyDeleteso much in a face... a story ... a life... wonderfully written Grace...
ReplyDeletea beautiful story woven from eyes full of sorrow but, yet full of hope..nicely done Grace..
ReplyDeleteDespite being the breadwinner the worry lines are etched all over her face and beautifully captured here. A foreign country offers more in terms of quantum that should be reassuring. Nicely crafted Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
Wow - that was so deep and powerful. Loved every words, Grace.
ReplyDeleteI really like the eyebrows stitched to worry line and the somber lit.
ReplyDeleteShe could be Pilipino, Guatemalan, Bangladeshi, or a myriad others...
ReplyDeleteGreat story indeed at your feed, carefree doesn't last long it seems and is shorter for some too.
ReplyDeleteThe seldom told story of unsung heroes told perfectly.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. You captured her sadness, her longing with your words. Lovely poem.
ReplyDeletepoem-----vibrant like the pic itself!
ReplyDeleteCapturing the sadness of a life that is not lived happily ~ to the memories shared and her face lighting up
ReplyDeletemy favourite lines are ~
if i had a paintbrush, i'd have framed this moment
to remind her
beautiful Grace
Sad story - a life lived in self-sacrifice. Vibrant picture and a poem to match!
ReplyDeleteTragic... hope she finds more friends to set her free :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Beautifully and delicately written. A stunning poem...i hope she finds some happiness soon.
ReplyDeletewell done. It is sad to think that so many of us live like that....even if we are not sending money back home.....we give up on our lives and ourselves
ReplyDeleteYes -'this' is a gift. So many people in our lives have stories we will never learn... it is an honour to have these shared with us, for they are what make us vulnerable. A beautifully strong piece.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely story. Enjoyed that a lot.
ReplyDeleteSuch a composition.... Yea, like your blog title, your work is everyday amazing. The story hooked me at a point.
ReplyDeleteI really loved reading this Grace. Your imagination is great and your writing is beautiful. I mentioned your blog(s) in my post today.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa ~
DeleteThis made me very sad to read. I suppose because it touches a deep core within me. Well done. As always, thank you and have a great week!
ReplyDeleteA poignant portrait of an immigrant woman,with too much burden on her shoulders!Amazing writing.
ReplyDeletei liked how you worked off the art... putting creativity in your lines
ReplyDeleteFebruary 10th, 2014
ReplyDeleteDear Grace,
You have written a beautiful poem that tells a heart-wrenching story. And you have painted a stunning portrait with happy colours and sad eyes. Perfect for the prompt!
Best wishes,
Anna
A very poignant but accurate verse portrait. Loved the line about eyebrows stitched to worries, hit home. Too many Marlies around. Great take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteSo many live lives of crushing burdens and sorrows. A great evocative prose rendering of the bruised soul of Marly.
ReplyDeletecool.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem fitting in well with the theme and the picture. So many people work so hard for so little even in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this, a poem painting a woman/child. One has the feeling she is strong and can do what is asked of her, but she hasn't forgotten the child she is inside, the woman, mother, wife and daughter she also is inside and mourns the time she loses not being those entities... Nicely done and soft.
ReplyDeleteI'll join the list of those saying bravo. I get a sense of the fatalistic reading this. Will she stay and do her duty or break from duty and do for herself. . .
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this. Good luck.
I loved the words and the art too. A wonderful portrait of a strong face.
ReplyDelete