2015 April PAD Challenge - Day Fifteen - Halfway there!

Today's prompt for Writer's Digest 2015 April Poem A Day Challenge is: An Adjective Titled Poem.

Lost

I know
That these words
Will never be enough

I know
That our country
Which you Bravely
Sought as solace

When you fled from
Trouble Back Home
Has In the Darkness
Raised It's Ugly Greedy Head
And Destroyed
The Life You've Built

Your neighbours
Have listened to the lies
Fed to them from up high

But they do not know
That we are all Africans
Whether from the South or North

I know these words
Will never be enough
As your children cry
And you wonder where to go

But if they come at you
With petrol and knives

Fight your way out
Fight your way back
Back to the Rainbow nation
We all fought so hard for

And I will be there
With open arms
Waiting

For Rosemary Theron - How I Will Remember You

Dear Rosie

Today I heard the news about what people have been speculating for months. You were murdered. I fear that this is how people will remember you. That the press and the public will dissect your last moments under the media’s magnifying glass. I don’t want to know the details. I don’t want to put in my insensitive two cents of speculation.  Too many people are remembered this way. They are remembered for their last moments instead of their lives.

So I’m writing this to you so I will remember you as you were in life – tiny in stature but full of fire. Our paths only crossed twice but in that short time, you made a massive impact. The first time we met, we did a gig together at an end of year function. The theme was Alice in Wonderland – I was The Queen of Hearts and you were the Mad Hatter. We met as we were putting on our make up before going to interact with the guests. We were surrounded by models and I was hoping there would be someone I could talk to. Someone that had beauty that was more than skin deep. We chatted a little bit about the gig. It was the end of the year and the festive season madness had already begun. You seemed angry and untrusting of me. We didn’t talk much again that day but while we were with the guests, you kept coming up to me and interacting with me as your character. You took your role seriously, stayed in character the whole time (as did I as you can see by the photo below) and I appreciated that.

                                         The Queen of Hearts glares at The Mad Hatter 

The next time I saw you would be the last. We were doing a Halloween Rocky Horror Show themed gig. I was playing the role of Columbia and had been asked to choreograph a Flash Mob Time Warp. You were part of the Flash Mob and were also doing Fire Dancing. It was a very chaotic day –too many people were trying to take charge and I was getting more and more frustrated trying to lead the group. I’m not the kind of person who usually shows my anger but the tolls of sleep deprivation overtook me and I stormed off to be on my own. I felt stupid and embarrassed that I couldn’t handle the group dynamic and irritated that I had put so much work in, only to be disrespected.  Suddenly out of nowhere, you ran up to me and kissed me on the cheek. I’ve never been one to show my affection easily through touch – I use words to show people I care. The fact that you didn’t even know me that well but still reached out to me with such compassion made me feel so much better. Everything changed after that, I went back to the group and got ready for the gig to start. The rest of the night we performed in different parts of the club. You did your fire dancing but slipped and fell on the gasoline in front of the audience. I didn’t see the moment you fell, but you came up to me afterwards all embarrassed and I tried to take your mind off things. I then had to do my performance and we danced a little bit later in the evening after the flash mob.

Our paths crossed for just a moment in time but your kindness affected me deeply. I hope that your family and friends and anyone who crossed your path also had the privilege of seeing this side of you. I will remember you always. Thank you for leaving me with such a beautiful memory – you will be missed. 

*This piece was published in The Sunday Times, South Africa on October 6th 2013. 

Baby It's Cold Outside! #Day3 #PromenadePoetry #CWCT2013

Yesterday's weather in Cape Town was miserable. I was sitting there trying not to freeze, thinking that trying to find someone to talk to and write for was going to be impossible. I had some unexpected company when a whole flock seagulls and pigeons came to investigate what I was doing. Not sure what they thought of my poetry... ;) 

The only people that were on the Promenade were the die hard athletes - the people that run/jog/walk no matter what the weather. None of them stopped to say hello as they went by but I noticed a few did manage to crack a smile. One lady even stopped to jog on the spot so she could read what I had written and then continued. I have great respect for people that show such commitment - seeing those people out there in the freezing cold, made me feel that I was doing the right thing and that I was in great company if only by association. 

Meet Salie, former resident of Diep River and now residing in Parow. Salie dreams of a drug and gangster free society. He says he lives for his children who make him happiest. He was married for 26 years and has been single for two which he says suits him fine. His greatest achievement was building a 6 wheeler limo which appeared in the newspaper and he hopes to build an even bigger limo in the future as he loves to work with his hands.  

Here's hoping for better weather the rest of the week!