Take Courage - Visitor's Poem

by Abed Masinga
(South Africa)

I'm like a small desert tree
Vulnerable to storm tossing me around
Testing my roots
Swinging me to west and east
Rolling all directions like a baby girl's shackling bracelet on her wrist.

Like fisher men caught by storm in the heart of Arctic
Caught up without frequency to alert the danger
Everything comes to stand still
and waves smashing hard testing endurance and resilience
Everything turns out to be a night dream
that disperses when the sun rises
What used to matter before does not matter any more
I wish I could revoke the moment.

This is the moment I dust my ancient book
and try to iron out my twisted fate
Holding the so called book of life upside down
Trying to read like an ancient pagan converted to Christianity
Could this be a license to go home?

I'm hearing the little voice in the chamber of my heart
Feinted voice saying "gone be ok"
The voice of my angel saying "gone be ok"
I feel the seed of hope germinating in the midst of consciousnesses
The more I swing the more I smile
Like a young monk on trampoline jumping up and down.

Take courage on your words my angel
It will be time when mankind's faith ceases but not today
This is the hour to sharpen my old pencil and scribble again
I shall not drown; I shall grow to see my hair grow grey.