poetry pf header

 

 
home>poets>Maggie Harris

Maggie Harris     about Maggie      more poems

this poet is taking part in the poetry pRO project

this poet is taking part in the poetry tREnD project

events listing

 

home button poets button features button

links button shop button about ppf button email ppf button

 

 

 

in collection, From Berbice to Broadstairs, 2006

Mango Publishing, ISBN 1 902294 28 9

 

From this same veranda

(or Liming)

 

From this same veranda Miss Beaumont order her lime juice

Cool and sweet in the heat

Slow ships roll on the tide

 

From this same veranda Great-grandmother runs

Apron full of limes

There’s a new breeze on the skyline

 

From this same veranda Pastor calls my fathers up

No more talking drums, no sunset gatherings

Underneath them limes

 

From this same veranda Grandmother sweeps new dust

There’s a rocking roll in her low-slung hips

And a morning light in her eyes

 

From this same veranda my mother hold that baby tight

Deep-voices Louis Armstrong, partify the psalms

Whilst

 

From this same veranda I watch my blue jeans swing

On the washing line, my toenail polish shine

And in no time

 

It getting crowded up here with fathers and mothers

Sisters and brothers, grand and godmothers

Aunty niece from Toronto, Chicago, Accra

North Island, Berbice, Castries

And Brighton, England

 

But y’know - there’s always room for one more - so

From this same veranda I call my child

Darlin’ shove up that rocking chair, come

Join us up here for a lime

 

                                                        Maggie Harris

 

(Liming:  hanging out)

 

 

last update:

Maggie Harris photo

e-mail Maggie
website
blog

poetry favourites:
Mango

and in the shop ...
collections -
"After a visit to a botanical garden",
Cane Arrow Press;

"Limbolands",
and
"From Berbice to Broadstairs",
Mango Publishing;

book &
performance CD:
"Listen to de riddum",
direct from Maggie
via web-site

 


© of all poems featured on this site remains with the poet
site feedback welcome