Oh my children, why?
are you complaining, falling, screaming
when i need your help
with Borrioboola-Gha, the venture
for which our funds have dwindled.
Oh my children now be silent
I have letters, motions, ink on paper
to win support for Borrioboola-Gha
for the heathens, souls of south
we still can save.
Oh my child, you are too selfish
how can you marry
when we have meetings, tea to drink
to benefit the mission
in Borrioboola-Gha?
Oh my children don’t you see,
compassion growing for
the places where you never been?
A second Persona poem for KB’s prompt at dVerse to write a persona poem. I took the persona of Mrs Jellyby in Charles Dicken’s novel Bleak House.
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January 12, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Love this one. Made me smile with delight.
Ha.. I almost could say I wrote it with you in mind…
I admire the voice specially the refraining line of My child/children ~ It is hard to grow compassion for those far away places ~
Or for some compassion for those far away is an excuse for not showing compassion for those close to you… which was the case for the Mrs Jellyby of Bleak House.
Love this!
Reminded me of my childhood in Catholic school (a long, long time ago) when they used to collect aluminum foil for the “pagan babies.” Oy vey.
I really like this one! Admirable 🙂
Great second persona poem. Can’t say I am familiar with the novel Bleak House though…..
Many consider Bleak House to be the best of Dickens’ novels… a lot of great characters in his writing…
I totally thought it said “Mrs. Jellybean,” which is adorable. 🙂
Ha.. that would be a lot cuter than the Jellyby
I never read that book by Dickens but Mrs. Jellyby sounds like an intriguing person. I liked your repetition, it heightened the feeling of beseeching her people to support her.
alas… she was a terrible woman.. but letting her say her own meaning makes it almost reasonable… I truly recommend Bleak House… many consider it the best book Dickens ever wrote.
Lovely contrast and satire Bjorn.
I need to comment more. I truly enjoy your poetry. Take care
….an ode to Dickens…..his characters, and your personna here… truly unique. “Oh my children” indeed! Nicely done.
Had to refresh my memory of “Bleak House”. Mrs Jellyby, I gather, worried about the natives of Borrioboola-Gha in Nigeria while her own children fell into the grate. After that, those “Oh my children” lines really sprung from the page. It’s true, I have seen this many times in my life – especially in the non-existent parenting of so-called concerned citizens and local politicos whose own children are totally lost, messed up and careening towards the next horror of their own making.