Emigration Stone Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Emigration Stone

Rating: 3.8


Great grandfather stood like a stone
As the ship crossed the horizon
To dropp off the world as he knew it
His shovel beard, his barrel chest
Heaving a little, wordless

Letters would come in litters, like little puppies
From his lost children, Look at me, look at me,
But never bound at his heel in the surly mud.

He could use the pages to line his heavy boots
Softening the lonely walk behind the plough

He could use them to plug the holes
Where the rats came, gnawing away at his heritage
Loss, tugged at his heart like wool on thorns

Few now, to pass the salt, to chide, to praise
His saplings gone. The sky a red pyre, bleeding
What is a patriarch without a clan?

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Colonel Muhamad Khalid Khan 17 October 2016

Congratulations for poem of the day. A very good poem Sheena. Well done Col Muhammad Khalid khan

2 0 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 17 October 2016

Emigration! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

2 0 Reply
Kenneth Maswabi 17 October 2016

It's a sad situation for those leaving and yet again it's painful for those staying behind. Thanks for sharing.

2 0 Reply
Anil Kumar Panda 17 October 2016

It is really hard and sad to leave ones land and go through much tribulations to adopt a foreign land. One always misses those who stay behind. Very nice. Congrats for poem of the day.

2 0 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 17 October 2016

What is a patriarch without a clan? Very touching question. So are the realities of life., sometimes. Heartiest Congrats on the Poem of the Day.

1 0 Reply
John Beaton 24 September 2018

Excellent poem, Sheena. I come from a line of crofters- the ones who stayed after the Clearances. What sadness there must have been when the families split. Nicely done.

0 0 Reply
Narayanan Kutty Pozhath 30 April 2018

There is a patriarch behind every clan. Wonderful poem.

0 0 Reply
Akhtar Jawad 06 April 2018

Few now, to pass the salt, to chide, to praise His saplings gone. The sky a red pyre, bleeding What is a patriarch without a clan? A poem that makes us thinking.

0 0 Reply
Binayakumar Mohanty 14 October 2017

Nicely crafted poem mam. I loved it. I invite you to read and comment on my poem dear frog.

0 0 Reply
Shimizu Mizuhala 25 May 2017

Reminds me of my grandfather, really moving poem.Thanks!

0 0 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Close
Error Success