Haroon

(Haroon @ Speakers Corner Hyde Park London 1977)
re: "in camps thirty years" : insert today 2008 - "in camps sixty years"


He could have been a young Omar Shariff
teeth gleaming, lips pouting
finely chiseled brown face
gold glinting on wrists and fingers
tailored suit, snow white shirt
wearing soft Gucci shoes - he's confident
in his 'work clothes' - the bonus earned every Sunday
for taking the rostrum at Speaker's Corner.

French, English, Arabic at his command
he stands above the crowd
passionately unfolding the tragedy
of the Palestinian people -
in camps thirty years
waiting for their State of Palestine.

Time off from busking at a loose end
standing in a crowd mesmerised, listening
to an adept immersed in his subject
when a heckler interjects
shouting insults and racist slurs.

The spruiker deals swiftly with the 'plant'
he's done this before - words his world
eloquent under harassment - the heckler
dissolves back into the crowd.

Meeting him later, instinct told me
he needs to remain a mystery -
not too many prying questions.

Invited back to his Chelsea flat
for coffee and conversation
he ushered me in through the door
checked efficiently behind curtains
under beds, inside cupboards.

'In this business' he said
'You always check first - for bombs'




Pamela Sidney 2003