At the launch of Apology for Absence, Julia read a new poem, not in the book. Emma Holliday has made it into a postcard, which is now available at selected outlets in Newcastle and Durham. You can also download it as a PDF file, to print out for yourself. Meanwhile Julia has commanded her webmaster to add it to this site, so here it is:
Approach us assertively, try not to
cringe or sidle, it makes us fearful.
Rather walk straight up and smile.
Do not touch us unless invited,
particularly don't squeeze upper arms,
or try to hold our hands. Keep your head erect.
Don't bend down, or lower your voice.
Speak evenly. Don't say
'How are you?' in an underlined voice.
Don't say, I heard that you were very ill.
This makes the poorly paranoid.
Be direct, say 'How's your cancer?'
Try not to say how well we look.
compared to when you met in Safeway's.
Please don't cry, or get emotional,
and say how dreadful it all is.
Also (and this is hard I know)
try not to ignore the ill, or to scurry
past, muttering about a bus, the bank.
Remember that this day might be your last
and that it is a miracle that any of us
stands up, breathes, behaves at all.
Julia Darling
On other pages: Sudden Blossoms, Inside Out, National Poetry Day 2004, The Manifesto For Tyneside Upon England, The Great British Public, The Lost Birds of England, Attachments, Cold Calling, The Writer's Choice, Personal Belongings, The Last Post and Posties, Doughnuts like Fanny's and Eating the Elephant.
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Created by Julia Darling and Cornwell Internet. |
Last updated on 3rd April 2005 by Roger Cornwell.
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