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Ancestry.com


by Nonnie Augustine


Ancestry.com

 

The Liverpool census in 1851 lists him:

Thirteen years old, Irish. Occupation: beggar.

 

Only that. I will do more for him.

I will see him in torn jacket and too-short pants

singing all day of the fields, the cliffs, the Shannon

and Liffey, the Clares, Annies, and saucy Rosies.

I will give him a pure tenor and a brother clicking bones,

keeping time while he's tuned to the doings in the street

and to his big brother's sweet, hungry voice.

Two stevedores march past on their way to the docks.

Their clothes gray and their caps grimy, they are tired, silent

men who have no time, money, or even a listen to give them.

 

Here is a man coming through in a well-cut coat,

and his hat is a gentleman's hat. The boys eye him

slow down and stop. Sure, but he's English

thinks the singer and the rhythm of the bones

never falter though the player is thinking of boots.

They finish their tune, stand, stare, and wait.

“I'm a music teacher and I thank you for your music.”

He smiles, opens his purse, and hands them coins.

“Get some food, go home, rest your fingers, rest your voice.”

The kind man walks on and the beggars are done for the day.

 

The census taker's fine script hurled itself at me; his facts smashed something too soft in me, but I've caught these boys, given them music and food. Tomorrow I'll give them warmth.

 

 

 

 

 

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