My island of strangers: a poem | Michael Rosen

The prime minister warns that immigration could turn Britain into an ‘island of strangers’. Author and poet Michael Rosen respondsI lay in bed hardly able to breathe but there were people to sedate me, pump air into me calm me down when I thrashed around hold my hand and reassure me play me songs my family sent in turn me over to help my lungs shave me, wash me, feed me check my medication perform the tracheostomy people on this “island of strangers” from China, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland India, USA, Nigeria and Greece.I sat on the edge of my bed and four people came with a frame and supported me or took me to a gym where they taught me how to walk between parallel bars or kick a balloon sat me in a wheelchair taught me how to use the exercise bike how to walk with a stick how to walk without a stick people on this “island of strangers” from China, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland India, USA, Nigeria and Greece. Continue reading...

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