Home » Poems » Maureen Mcgreavy » Memory In Black and White

Memory In Black and White

Palm trees and ocean breeze heavenly received by this pasty white northern teen. On the drive to grandma's snowbird roost she points out a black family; "they must be renters, blacks are only here during the week to work". road to Disneyworld lined with tin and waste wood shacks short of dreams come true 7.9.2020 A Memory Poetry Contest Sponsored by Line Gauthier

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Aditi Mishra

Date: 7/26/2020 9:50:00 AM

This leaves such a powerful impact on my mind Maureen. The harsh reality of this world that we witness through grey filters everyday. A touching write!

Frances Byrne

Date: 7/23/2020 5:15:00 PM

Hi Maureen, Very thought provoking write. What we see and experience as children can mark us deeply. Brilliant contrasting. Frances

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/25/2020 5:44:00 AM

Thank you Frances. I’m intrigued myself by what memories stick, those seemingly obscure moments that shape who we become. A lovely day to you! xomo

Eric Ashford

Date: 7/18/2020 9:38:00 AM

Yes this feels real, and it would be a strong memory for sure. I love how you switch to the road scenes of a poorer side of the sunshine state. Eric

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/18/2020 12:05:00 PM

btw, it’s Maureen, in case you missed the slip of the moniker ;),

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/18/2020 12:00:00 PM

Thank you a Eric. I remember wondering where they lived, in my teenage naïveté; the sight of that question answered haunts me to this day. xomo

Jean Murray

Date: 7/14/2020 2:21:00 PM

It's funny what sticks out in our memories. Especially as teenagers, when we are trying to make sense of our world.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/14/2020 2:24:00 PM

You nailed it. I tried to remember the Disney park and barely anything comes to mind, just the shanties we passed on the way there, clear as day. Thank you Jean, xo Maureen

Judy Ball

Date: 7/14/2020 10:32:00 AM

I have memories like that too. Only I was one of the poor kids that never saw Disney Land or any of the tourist attractions in Florida. I also remember the separations of the races too. Quite unfair. Not like that here in Canada though. Nice write, great imagery. God Bless, JB

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/14/2020 11:35:00 AM

I was a poor kid too, then my mother married money, but having seen what I saw, those shanty villages, it put poverty in perspective for me. I’m considered poor now, but I call it “Canada poor”; we count our blessings. Hopefully too with the recent light shone on the economic disparity here we will get some real change. Hugs! Mo

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 7/13/2020 8:20:00 PM

So rich in poignancy, sadly, many people don't get their happily ever after...

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/14/2020 11:37:00 AM

Thank you Michelle, sadly true. xomo

Timothy Mcguire

Date: 7/13/2020 3:29:00 PM

Great ! A FAV for me. I grew up in the south and I had a similar experience. Your words speak so true to this.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/14/2020 11:38:00 AM

Thank you Timothy! It really was a stark impressionable experience. xomo

Gary Radice

Date: 7/13/2020 7:33:00 AM

A great write Mo. Here's to a better Tomorrowland.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/14/2020 11:40:00 AM

Thank you Gary. We can only hope. Actually no, we can only do everything in our own power. xomo

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 7/13/2020 3:07:00 AM

This one was brilliant, Mo. Brilliant.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/14/2020 11:41:00 AM

Thank you Caren <3 mo hugs than you can know what to do with. x!

Rhonda Johnson-Saunders

Date: 7/12/2020 9:36:00 PM

Well written, Maureen! Your last line sums it up perfectly...growing up in North Miami, my neighborhood was a melting pot of colors and cultures. I'm grateful I didn't experience what you describe. GL in the contest. Blessings, Rhonda xx

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/12/2020 10:57:00 PM

That sounds more like how I grew up too. I just now remembered her trailer was in Redington Shores. The experience was so alien to me, I have never forgotten it. Thank you Rhonda! Hugs n' love, xomo

Mark Koplin

Date: 7/12/2020 7:28:00 AM

Another good one Mo!

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/12/2020 7:30:00 AM

Thank you Mark! Good morning! <3

Dm Babbit

Date: 7/11/2020 10:18:00 AM

Wow, so well penned. I too, have been on those trips down to Florida visiting my Dad and my Aunts, but sadly, the sights were familiar.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/11/2020 12:33:00 PM

Thank you DM. I imagine not much has changed, sadly. xomo

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/10/2020 7:04:00 PM

This is really great poetry. Showing us , as Kim says, a sad truth, which I hope will one day be obliterated in this world.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/11/2020 9:59:00 AM

Thank you Andrea. I can't imagine what could bring that about other than rallying against an overwhelming threat, that we could all agree on ;), xomo

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 7/10/2020 2:36:00 PM

Wow! Certainly surreal. I know there is sad truth in this. That’s why we bring these to light in poetry. Oh if only all these kids were rounded up and given at least a weekly treat on rides and amusements at Disney. It’s a small world after all!

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/11/2020 9:58:00 AM

Thank you Kim, lovely sentiment. This... Seared in my memory, the first time I witnessed racism; didn't really figure out my grandmother was racist till years later. Mo hugs!

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 7/10/2020 8:58:00 AM

Witty and pretty dearest, Maureen! Hugs xxx

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/11/2020 9:54:00 AM

Thank you Demetrios, hugs n' love your way! xomo

David Kavanagh

Date: 7/9/2020 4:53:00 PM

Touch of class super Mo, no pun intended Love the ku ending, I seen a crazy movie klerks 2 and one of the guys keeps obliviously quoting his grandmas racial sayings in front of the wrong people, this brought it to mind, cheers David

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/10/2020 11:27:00 PM

Oh this medium. I was expressing glee, typing in my excited voice, hard to hear over the Internet ;),

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/9/2020 5:30:00 PM

Clerks! Only seen the 1st, don't remember much, love his other film Dogma though, SO want to see that again now... I'll never forget my grandma's face when my boyfriend earnestly ask her what one of her racial slurs meant. Cheers! xomo

Lawrence Sharp

Date: 7/9/2020 2:08:00 PM

A powerful and withering statement piece, Mo ! Excellent.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/9/2020 4:12:00 PM

Thank you Lawrence; I am happy for the prompt for my being able to let this cat out of the bag. xomo

Rico Leffanta

Date: 7/9/2020 1:38:00 PM

I recall those days with ease. Visiting my cousin in Burbank, I learned people of colour - including Japanese gardeners - were prohibited within city limits after 20:00. How could they see us in the dark? Aloha! Rico

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/11/2020 3:42:00 PM

I heartfully agree with you there <3

Rico Leffanta
Date: 7/11/2020 2:25:00 PM

I lived in Wales when all the street signs reverted to Welsh much to English-speakers dismay. How can learning the aboriginal place name be harmful? Every nation has enough monuments to war but not enough to their origins! Aloha! Rico

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/9/2020 4:10:00 PM

...mind you the same neighbourhood my grandmother complained about all the immigrants and the city changing the street names (to French)

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/9/2020 3:59:00 PM

I really was blessed to grow up in a diverse neighbourhood, one I moved back to 13 years ago. It's a reputable rough hood, but people here smile and say hello. Friends who have moved away miss it, particularly for the sake of their children's experience with cultural diversity.

Ilene Bauer

Date: 7/9/2020 1:04:00 PM

oh, so poignant, maureen! well done...

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/9/2020 1:13:00 PM

Thank you Ilene. Funny how things stick to you, I don't remember much else about that vacation, this seared in my memory. Her racism really put a strain on our relationship at the end of her life, the older she got the more loose her tongue. Lessons on how not to be ;), xomo!