The following poem was inspired by our time in Barcelona. For several days we walked in Gaudi and Picasso’s footsteps, fascinated by the birth of the cubism movement and both of us having favourite Picasso works to search for. We walked the small lanes, and cobbled roads,pass a unique Spanish Church, pass restaurents especially Els Quatre Gats taverns, the world renowned Picasso Museum, and sat sipping red wine and eating Paella on La Rambla observing the people, as our daughter Bernadine recommended.
It is surprising to me this is the poem from those days. The Roma woman sitting on the cold steps of the Church, was there for the two days I walked that way and the shock on the second day when I visited the Church, to find a baby hidden under her mantel and less cared for then the statue of the Madonna and Child inside the church . The paradox and pathos are hard to capture. I hope I have captured the moment for you.
street madonna
she was there yesterday
quiet as a fresco
sunlit olive skin eyes lowered
a shawl and joyful skirt
i felt a jolt
passed quickly by
walk picasso’s footsteps
barcelona’s gothic quarter
marvel at ancient roman walls
sip coffee in the bohemian-quarter kats
inhale the vibe of past artists writers poets
she is there again today
on the cold stone steps
near the ornately carved doors
her presence loud
I was warned
walk on
but a voice inside says
this is different
in the cathedral the rose window
plays its colours
mother and baby statue
glows in candle light
on my way out
a fumble in my heart
makes me halt
i scan her face
she looks up eyes hook me
draw me she smiles
the cup in her hand
rattles
under her mantle
a baby cradled in her lap
reaches out