Red Suitcase - Diane Scantlebury

He strides ahead in a storm of anger
She trails behind, head down but defiant,
She tries to catch up
But he races on, quickening his pace,
Neither looks back
To the small child struggling with a red suitcase,
Too big and too heavy
For him to control,

He is furious, his temper flowing
She is embarrassed,
Her face scarlet and glowing,
Neither thinks of the child
Following and forgotten,
Struggling to control the red suitcase,

She suddenly turns back
Remembering her responsibility,
He is gone, disappears into the crowd
And is nowhere to be seen,
Neither in their selfish feud
Considers the small child,
Struggling with the red suitcase,
Which like his parents,
Is too big and too heavy
For him to control.

Diane Scantlebury