Reflecting on Ruth Gee's Presidential Address, I was reminded of this poem from 'The Weaver, The Word and Wisdom. It may be of help to those attending Conference who find London a challenging place to be!
A Colour Catches My Eye
Lost in the hot crush of a heaving crowd,
I find myself frustrated by the tourist pace of casual, slow enquiry.
I am in a hurry.
I want to walk faster than this,
but the busy streets close around me.
I have a train to catch.
In the hustle of the holiday throng,
with a dozen different languages
rough on my ears,
I stand still.
Between the buildings a colour catches my eye.
A banner of flaming red,
scorched with yellow,
burns for a split second.
Brought to my ears
on an impudent breeze,
the sound of a samba band
beating to a rhythm of thunder and power.
From deep within my closed and worried throat
comes laughter,
uncalled for and unexpected,
bubbling up, brilliant with giggling joy.
I see myself lifted from sombre sobriety
to a state of intoxicated glee
that gives me a voice
and opens my eyes
to the reality of a city that is carnival chaos,
Mardi Gras magic and festival frenzied.
In a moment of grace
I know a new spirit,
moving my feet to a different rhythm
and my heart to a fuller way of loving.
Michaela Youngson
