A Beautiful Park

(Last week there was a young woman beaten and raped in one of our most
beautiful parks, Stanley Park. She was left with brain damage in the
local hospital. It took them days to find out that she was a Korean
student over here attending school. I felt very sad, and horrified.
I used to practically live in Stanley Park as a child and youth. So,
as usual, I had to write it out of my system.)

A BEAUTIFUL PARK

It's a beautiful park, called God's land by many.
A young girl was beaten and raped there today.
All by myself, I sat in its center,
Unaware of the evil that touched it that way.

Yet, there in its shelter, I felt something stirring.
The soft touch of breezes that whispered past me
Held a slight tremor, a secret, a sadness.
I dismissed it and kept on with my reverie.

But shadows drew near. An invisible meance
Threatened my peace like a discordant note.
I suddenly rose and I looked all around me.
I hurried away as I buttoned my coat.

Fear at my heels, every sound, every whisper,
Hurried my footsteps as I made my way home.
The news told the story. I sat in the darkness,
Touched a light switch and wrote my fear into a poem.

© 2002 Pam H. Murray


June 3, 2002