Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page
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Revelations about Goldenbridge by Christine Buckley in a television documentary sent alarm bells ringing around the world. St Vincent's Industrial School run by the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin's Goldenbridge was revealed as a particularly awful place.
"Goldenbridge was an emotionally abusive institution. Girls were humiliated and belittled on a regular basis and treated with contempt by some staff members. It was characterised by an absence of kindness or sympathy for the children." Christine Buckley's own story is one of complete horror and human endevour. Today Christine is involved in the Aislinn Centre in Dublin which offers help and support to Ireland's many victims of child abuse.
Anita Daly of the Ballinlough Writers Group in Cork was watching Christine's emotional appearance on TV and wrote this weeks thought provoking poem.
Evocation of a woman's lips; Christine Buckley
I watch the hurt shape
reminscent of the time
you were beaten, still a child.
After all that, you have naturally limits.
Some didn't expect a protest -
there were those who believed
the children in an orphanage
deserved cruelty,
I mesmererised by sure and soft lines
that could not tell the active abuse
while a child: your 'guardians,'
warned against it then.
How much did they beat you?
Worse than black and blue? Oh Yes.
You told us you had to go to hospital.
How much could you stand
throughout your childhood?
Those distinctive lips.
With the Irish predident you laugh
so you did survive it; on telly,
you laugh and chat with her
with your fellow survivors,
not afraid of publicity;
regular appearances on telly.
A pivotal figure there standing up
to the scandal in childrens'
homes and perpetrators.
Resistant lips. Explicit. Focused
on standing up for yourself and
those who needed a leader.
I will remember your lips
Elegant questions
Shaped from confidence and hurt.
© Anita Daly
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