Lost Angel Avenue
child of the side walk
do not fade and pale away
the love you have invested
the power you have contested
casts a sheen of gilt edged tears
to wash the stains and sorrow
child of the doorway
sleeping in the shadows
cloaked with demons of abuse
relinquish your nightmares
let your eyelids fall
into dreams of childhood
child of the subway
secret sins unseen
hidden in your depths
discard your harrowed halos
crawl the ladder of despair
and grab your share of sun
child of the ghetto
you laden me with shame
taunt me not with your corpse
for I have seen your soul
rise up towards the light
and this should ease my mind
© Ellen Johns and Berenice Dunford 2002
This page is dedicated to Ellen Marie Johns, my co-poet for 'Lost Angel Avenue' (One half of 'Stilton & Port' all those months ago for an early Poetry Board League entry.) I seem to recall that we got an honourable mention for this one. Remarkable considering how difficult it is to co-write a poem with someone else. Thank you Ellen for writing this poem with me and for all our poetry, coffee and counsel moments. Here's to an amazing mother (of two equally amazing girls), friend and human being.