It was a very merry unbirthday party last night at the Isaiah House for women without homes. As luck would have it the Queen of Hearts wasn’t around when the King (yours truly), enjoying his moment of glory, declared, as is his right, all of the Isaiah House Guests pardoned from the Queen’s “Off with their heads!” way of settling all difficulties.

The March Hare (Marti), always advocating solving all difficulties by throwing a tea party, decided an unbirthday party was the best way of celebrating a birthday that was most likely lost in the anonymity of homelessness. The women enthusiastically responded.

But the highlight of the evening was when one guest was begrudgingly coerced into reading her poem “No One Saw Me.” In a moment of unveiled revelation, we were all allowed us to step through the looking glass into her world’s reflection. We gratefully offer it here for you to do the same.

No One Saw Me
by Beverly Cunningham

Probably started at my birth
Through the nursery window, to see
Oh how beautiful the babies are
But no one looked at me.

As I grew older
The only “girl” my Mom’s constant pleas
She looks like her Dad
Why didn’t my only girl, look like me?

Mom was so beautiful
Fair skin, flowing hair
Small-waisted, breathtaking
A “Maiden so Fair”

But me ah, the tomboy
Dark complexion, not so thin
For that was back in the days
When my features weren’t “in”

House full of teen boys
Nine brothers – popular to see
But I was invisible
My friends were chosen – not me

Growing into a loner
Wearing a mask – the “Class Clown”
My best friend name was “unknown”
No one really saw me when I was around

So I lost myself
Into whatever was sent my way
Spent years – lost years
Pain expected from day to day

Until one day I was passing
A store window and did see…
Backed up and saw what?
A beautiful woman – it was me!

He said, “Hope you like it
This is what I wanted you to see
But you never saw it coming
Because “You never saw me!”