Postmans Park
“Leigh Pitt
Age 30
saved a drowning boy from the canal at Thamesmead
but
sadly
was unable to save himself.”
A park
Hidden
A secret London keeps
Plaques line a wall
Full of
The Hero’s of her city
Those who sacrificed their lives
To save another
movie stars get grand entrances and their names in history books
not these
They are
Quiet
No God
No glory
Just a sentence
Or two
With a small water foundation
Near them
Drowning out the noise
Of londons busy city
And those who don’t know their names
Names like
Amelia Kennedy- died saving her sister from a burning house at only
19
Frederick Alfred Croft- saved a women from suicide but was then hit by the train himself
Samuel Lowdell drowned after rescuing three children
All survived
He didn’t
I cry when i come here
For them
For me
For every disappointment
And confusion
For all of them times
My own life was saved
And I imagine their plaques
up there
Blake Brown-
Sacrificed his time, life and money for his children
To have a better life
And a better love
than he ever knew
Lee hart- sat with my grief and reminded me that life goes go on and mothers are supposed to love
Unconditionally
Dr Lyons saw what she herself couldn’t and his affection gave her confidence to keep going
Even when she felt like an imposter
In her own skin
I wonder if my own name is on someone else’s plaque
I wonder why I spend so much time thinking about myself
When the best of the world are sitting in front of me
Those whose last thoughts were not of themselves
Because most of us
Can not save ourselves
But if we’re lucky
Maybe we help save someone else
And For the first time in months
I pray
“Hey God it’s me.”
And I cry for all those times
I could not save myself
But here I am
Because of those invisible plaques that line
My walls
Soloman Galaman
11 years old,
sept 6th 1901
Saved his little brother from being run over in the street
“Mother I saved him but I could not save myself.”
I could not save myself.
