On The Peace Line

Avatar: Married couple in their tenement flat Maryhill 1971, Nick Hedges [Taken as part of a project for Shelter documenting the lives of families living in slum and squalor.]

Amid the war torn cemetery

of sandstone tenement slums,

mixed with poverty

and the smog of

perpetual violence,

there was humanity

and humility.

There was love

and contentment

as those so low

could fall no farther

and so acquiesced

to fate.

 

Neighbours who chatted,

always had time

for a natter

and who would

offer help

without hesitation.

They would lend you their last

half crown

if asked,

they always had as smile

and their doors

were perpetually

ajar.

 

Nothing could dampen

their spirits,

as they held no hope

of riches or fame

or fortune.

To them each day a blessing

sent by god.

They remembered the war years well

 and took the peace seriously

and gratefully

with open arms.

 

So for them

making every penny count,

and stretch across the week,

was simply life

as they enjoyed the summer

sun and stayed warm in winter

round a coal fire.

It mattered not

that their clothes were thread bare

or that they had no carpet,

and their furniture

was scavenged

from dumps,

or that they had to

measure out

tea and sugar

and milk.

Small comforts

mean so much

to those with

nothing

but humility.

 

20/08/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Honest and powerful words shared John.
"Small comforts
mean so much
to those with
nothing"
I do agree with the closing lines. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

but humility.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

THank you so much Coyote John.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome John.

[Rye]

deep, wonderful piece of truth. Enjoyed your song choice as well

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Glad you enjoyed it Rye and many thank yous. I lived it once, well close enough!

[Eilis]

I saw this and thought it must be the other side of Glasgow poem you had mentioned you would be posting. Your descriptions make me think of WWII era living. The way people lived on rations and tried to be content as they could.

I like the way you’ve drawn their spirits, John. Often when I think about people living like this I think of the dissatisfaction and self-destruction that can be a byproduct of poverty. But there are always people who feel the blessing of every little thing, you’re right.

There is hope that can be found in the darkest places. Thanks for sharing these portraits, John. It’s nice to learn about the citizen’s eye view of places I’ve never been.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Having lived in 60s and 70s Glasgow I saw this at first hand and you are right, we associate such deprivation with dissatisfaction and violence and abuse but there is another side to it. Many thanks for reading and contributing Eilis.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

I agree with you, John.
This is what is going on around the world,
Only if the stronger can help the weaker,
Only if people in power would serve the people right,
Only if everyone world take life as a breath,
Then, everything would go on well with everyone.

Thank you for sharing this.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed you understand this well Kay. Many thank yous for reading and commenting.

[Patricia Wedel]

"Small comforts mean so much to those with Humility".
Counting pennies... buys time. Your Tale of Cities...
the best of times and the worst of of times. Our
Politics need more Poetry and Humility. truly, Pat

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed our politics need those values and more Pat. Many thanks for reading and commenting.

[Patricia Wedel]

It must be a huge responsibility to hold a position in Congress... and also in the State Legistrature. However, the largest responsibility is to the People.
I met a Judge once away from the Court House... and I learned what it means to meet a person whose Greatness is judged by their Humility. truly, Pat