Suffering so great, it stole my breath
Stories depicted in oil, in wood, in bronze
whispered truths as we became one
Their story was mine
History, the framework of the present
Without the past, this past, I would not exist
Hunger I’ve never felt pressed heavy on my privileged life
Their desperation was mine
As their blood flowed through my veins
I listened to voices never meant to be silenced
I mourned for the young and old alike
Their families were mine
When I reached the sculpture, The Leave-Taking,
the docent explained each piece, each heartbreak, each experience,
and I wept
Their tears were mine
My relatives made that journey
Generations of long ago made that sacrifice
As I toured that museum, I felt their hands bridge the distance
making the years in between disappear
photos: mine
Artwork: The Leave-Taking by Margaret Lyster Chamberlain
Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut
*I encourage you to visit this museum. It holds unbelievable beauty and strength from the artwork to the building itself. Our docent explained that the museum was designed to represent one of the many ships that carried people away from The Great Potato Famine. There are several short films to view and incredibly helpful people there to explain the stories behind the art.
Here is a New York Times article about the museum. Mournful, Angry Views of Ireland’s Famine
Poet's Corner 
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