This is a poem from many years ago, submitted to a citizen journalism site. It is worth sharing this winter day. Sadly there is no name and my only hope is, if he or she was homeless then, that their path in life changed and that they now have a home, a family and a support system. We must never forget the paucity in provision for people with mental illness and how they navigate the system is a mammoth and often most impossible system to negotiate hence much time of rescue is either homeless, hostels or in prisons. This is deemed sufficient to be their respite.
A Poem on Homelessness in Dublin.
A smile which lights up the City, A face that has a story, Inside those plastic bags Only she knows.
Buses, stations, streets, the airport Destinations she illuminates, A face, a smile, a story Opening the hearts of those around her .
Waiting at Pearse Street station Surrounded by her precious jewels, First thing on a Sunday morning, She drinks tea from her paper cup.
It could be anywhere you see, A little head popping up On a Luas near Abbey street, Hunched-backed yet beautiful.
Saying hello to the little girl in Mcdonalds, One wonders if she had children of her own? Cleaning the table so carefully, so happily, A lady of elegance Abandoned.
Unlost but lost, Smiling at a selfish world, She is my hero Her name is Bags.
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
canisgallicus 