National Adult Literacy Database

October 13, 2003

The following poem was written by Gillian Shireff, from Victoria, BC. Gillian was born in 1941, and she grew up a creative person in an intellectual family. She attended 6 schools, hoping to become more popular and intelligent at each school. Her attempts failed. After failing her first year at University, her father sent her to art school, hoping she would be an art teacher. Gillian graduated with a four year diploma, not knowing how to read, write, or do art. She fell in love with a gentleman at first sight in 1965. Unable to cope with her undiagnosed mental illness, he left for his home overseas, never to return. Gillian had a nervous breakdown. After 10 years in and out of hospital, she came to Victoria and attended another art school, where she learned but didn't graduate. She worked as a homemaker for the next 7 years. When she left that, Project Literacy Victoria helped her to read and write. She found healing writing poetry. In 1999, Gillian became an artist. She is also active in her church and in the field of mental illness recovery. She saw her love again in August, 2003, and he is as delightful now as he was then.

Friendship

by Gillian Shireff

Friendship is
Pure gold, pure gold.
More valuable
Than coffers full
More delicate
Than brittle bones
But as tough as
Elephants' ears,
Iron clad boots.

Telepathy
Quarrels with God
With each other,
Hug to make up,
Giggling, teas,
Silence is gold
Miles never part,
Precious moments
Last forever.

Friendship is
Pure gold, pure gold.
Extravagant
As coffers full
Tall, thin, short, stout,
With or without.
You, me, or they
Can be a friend.

[This poem was taken with permission, from the Project Literacy Victoria website.]