Monday, June 10, 2013

Hello dear Bluebell Poetry writers and readers!


Today we are going across the globe and back in history to look at the work of  Alan Paton






Alan Paton wrote this poignant poem while in Anerley, a holiday resort on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal on the 8th October, 1948.






The Discardment

We gave her a discardment
A trifle, a thing no longer to be worn,
Its purpose served, its life done.
She put it on with exclamations
Her eyes shone, she called and cried,
The great bulk of her pirouetted
She danced and mimed, sang snatches of a song.
She called out blessings in her native tongue
Called to her fellow servants
To strangers and to passers-by
To all the continent of Africa
To see this wonder; to participate
In this intolerable joy.


And so for nothing
Is purchased loyalty and trust
And the unquestioning obedience
Of the earth's most rare simplicity
So for nothing
The destruction of a world.



This poem is typical of Alan Paton's observations about the inequalities that existed between Whites and Blacks, and his writing evokes the soul of the African person....grateful, simple and humble.

You can find more of his writings and purchase his books here: 

http://www.amazon.com/Alan-Paton/e/B000AQ2BJM 

Hope you are enjoying your summer and don't forget to read some good poetry!

Till next time, 

Indie

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

great tribe, indie.

Happy June.