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
