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Rags to Riches

Aruni McShane is a new voice in Welsh poetry, and a very welcome one


When the shoe soles decide to go thinner and thinner,

Leaving my feet,

touching the ground

to feel the ease of sand or grass

Happiness, can you remember

how rich you were how rich you were.

Gulping water to feed my hunger

Staying awake to quench my thirst for wisdom

Resting my head close to my mother

Her warmth makes me sweat sweetly and cools me down to sleep

Oh Happiness, can you remember

How rich you were, how rich you were

Working day and night

Earning money, little coins

Worth millions

Can you remember

How thin was our bread, but how big it was in our minds?

Happiness were you there?

Of course you were there

When we were laughing at our rumbling tummies

Oh Happiness, can you remember

how rich you were how rich you were

I left the house

To find the riches

So you could be happy

And I could be rich

Oh Happiness, can you feel

How lonely I am and how poor you became ....


A book of Aruni McShane’s poetry and prose will be published in February 2023



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