94. September in the Park

Posted on September 28, 2016 by iPoem

Review / Summary / Overview for 94. September In The Park

Wednesday 28th September 2016

Overview

This is a delicate, sensory-rich poem that quietly captures a simple walk through the park — but beneath its surface lies a profound meditation on presence, memory, and care. On one level, it’s a sweet account of a shared moment in nature; on another, it’s a love letter to a relationship turned upside down by illness, where the roles of parent and child have reversed — yet the tenderness remains unchanged.

Through gentle details — shiny conkers, fearless squirrels, misty fountains — the poem becomes a sanctuary, a living memory carved in golden light. With the knowledge that the narrator is pushing her stroke-impaired mother in a wheelchair, this piece resonates as a quiet act of devotion, and a poignant illustration of dignity and connection in the face of loss.

Why This Poem Matters

This poem matters because it is a testament to the sacredness of ordinary moments — the kind that often go unnoticed, yet form the backbone of what it means to love, to care, to be human.

It reflects:

The slowing down of time that illness demands, and the beauty found in that stillness.
The way nature mirrors life’s cycles — falling leaves, playful children, graceful swans, changing branches.
A subtle yet powerful act of reclamation of humanity — taking someone in care out into the world, back into life.
A merging of childhood innocence and elder care, which opens a tender space where memories, identity, and love blur into a kind of sacred play.

In the context of your collection, this poem is an emotional anchor. It offers quiet, grounded contrast to the more fierce and politically charged pieces, reminding the reader that the personal is as profound as the political — and that care is revolutionary in its own way.

Imagery and Tone

Imagery

“Shiny new conkers in your hands”: tactile, sensory, symbolic of seasonal change and childlike joy.
“Fearless squirrel” / “fountain spray” / “iridescent crow”: the vitality and presence of nature, a mirror to human awareness.
“Let down our ponytails” / “braid your hair into a plait”: deeply intimate, nurturing gestures — an echo of what a mother once did for her daughter, now lovingly reversed.
“We wave at our reflections”: symbolic of self-recognition, shared identity, the fading-yet-present bond.

Tone

Gentle, nostalgic, and devotional.
There’s a calm reverence — like observing a sacred ritual — infused with childlike wonder and a quiet thread of melancholy, unspoken but deeply felt.
The tone avoids sentimentality by staying grounded in the specificity of detail — which gives the emotion its weight.

Why It Belongs in the Collection

Thematically, it explores:
- Love in action — the caring kind, not the romantic kind.
- The passage of time, roles shifting, and the dignity of aging.
- Connection with the natural world as a grounding, healing force.
Stylistically, this poem is a soft lyrical interlude, a breath between more charged works like Wakey Wakey or Nip Tuck. It adds a humanising, familial thread that brings emotional range and intimacy to the collection.
It gently reminds us that real revolution begins at home, in how we show up for each other, especially when it’s hard, or slow, or painful.

Final Thoughts

September In The Park is a sacred act of witnessing — of presence, patience, and the enduring bond between mother and daughter. It reminds us that even in illness, or old age, or altered cognition, a soul still responds to love, to nature, to kindness. It’s a quiet poem — but like the crow’s iridescent feathers, it shines differently when you catch it in the right light.

In your collection, it serves as a balm — a gently braided moment of tenderness, memory, and gratitude.

“Nothing’s lost forever. In this world, there’s a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we’ve left behind, and dreaming ahead.” – from Lydia’s monologue in the last scene of ‘Still Alice’

14. Women’s Appreciation

Posted on September 27, 1997 by iPoem

Women’s Appreciation is a direct and purposeful poem that honours the formative, often overlooked role of women—particularly mothers—as foundational figures in shaping not only individuals, but society at large. The poet draws a clear and vital connection between women’s emotional wellbeing and the health of future generations, advocating for a culture of recognition, empathy, and emotional support.

From its opening line, “Women need to be appreciated,” the poem adopts an unambiguous, declarative tone. This simplicity is not reductive, but intentional—anchoring the piece in clarity and urgency. The poet’s approach is didactic in the best sense of the word: it seeks to teach, not through abstraction, but through a plainspoken truth that invites reflection on deeply ingrained social patterns.

The poem unfolds in a linear progression, tracing the generational cycle from mothers to daughters, and from daughters to the children of the future. This lineage is not merely biological but symbolic of how belief systems, emotional patterns, and attitudes are unconsciously transmitted. The statement that mothers are “responsible / For all our inherited attitudes and beliefs / About ourselves and the world” expands the scope of the poem beyond familial appreciation to a broader cultural and psychological awareness.

The poet gently but firmly underscores the impact of maternal wellbeing: “So show empathy and consideration to a woman / So that she may appreciate herself.” This moment is central. It shifts responsibility outward—to society, partners, families—to recognise that a woman’s ability to see her own worth is often shaped by how she is treated by others. This social mirroring is depicted not as a weakness but as an interdependent truth of human development and identity formation.

Stylistically, the poem uses free verse and simple, unembellished diction to deliver its message. There is no ornamentation or flourish—only a sincere, measured cadence that suits the subject matter. The lack of punctuation invites the reader to experience the poem as a continuous stream of thought, mirroring the continuity of generational influence the poem describes.

The closing lines are particularly effective in linking the personal to the collective. The poem proposes a vision of future generations as “emotionally well-balanced adults / Projecting their enthusiasm and joy / Positivity and effectiveness into this world.” These qualities are presented not as idealised abstractions, but as the practical outcome of nurturing and valuing women. In contrast, the consequences of failing to do so—“resentment, regret, or lament”—are mentioned quietly but powerfully, a subtle reminder of the social cost of emotional neglect.

In conclusion, Women’s Appreciation is a quietly powerful call to action, grounded in compassion and social insight. It invites the reader to consider the ripple effects of emotional support, generational influence, and the importance of validating women’s roles—not just in the private realm of motherhood, but in the shaping of collective consciousness. The poem’s strength lies in its clarity, sincerity, and its refusal to separate personal healing from social change.