Free Verse Premiere Contest Winner

Free Verse

I live not far from humankind the cradle that is of
what and where we are all coming from Johannesburg
so they say and going to one human race of every colour
no need for power domination colonializing margins

The ‘dark continent’ where the ‘savages’ did not abide
by our expectations of what civilized should be and mean
where it was us the other 'othering' cannibalizing our flesh
of freedom dignity compassion lost in money mind and soul

My cradle rocks and sways in the wild gentle winds in
torrents of emotion mood reflection history anticipation
certain of uncertainty of what the intermingling retrospective
past and future web together like a tapestry of life a bricolage

Lost threads there are and double knitted faults and hollows
shallow worn out spins and spiral knots and missing patches
mended winding fabric scars and wounded oscillations
swings and roundabouts cul-de-sacs and four-way stoppage

Is there a pattern to cradling the moment to memories to
fantasies of rooted wings and flapping roots a human kind
of compass joining needles implements of mass construction
subjective individual shining lights and armour idiosyncratic beauty

Are we starving demising suffocating for self-righteousness
loosing the plot and all the marbles thrown high up in the
air with juggled balls we aim to fix the waters rivers flowing
on their own with push and pull of light and lighted gravitation

Just here and now not there and then when sunshine rises
where rainbows glitter melt and wax the wane all of the colours 
into violet prisms focussing condensing refracting blinding darkness
understanding knowledge of the shadows and bright clarity

When I write some thoughts on paper on the screen of modern
techniques and ancient art of crafted words and scripted meaning
the cradling of the moment takes its paths of where I’ve started off
and might be going once and only when the moment passes

02nd July 2016 written in Johannesburg and everywhere

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016



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Date: 6/21/2020 10:00:00 AM
So I can equally say " Lover Poetic free styler"...Talented & gracefully weaving Golden Concrete images on my neural cubicle Bravo Neumann. Bravo Versatility of your composure, peaky Paramount pleasure perfectly performed purely playing on Me in my fave. Right away........... Bravo
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Date: 9/10/2016 1:49:00 AM
Hi Kai, adding ro my previous comment in your poem about feeding ducklings i reiterate that your poetry is incredible. What a surprìse to see youre from SA. I too live in the Crafle of Mankind. Congratulations on your win btw
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 9/10/2016 4:38:00 AM
Hi Jannie and thank you. Where do you live then? We are in Buccleuch in Johennesburg...
Date: 7/9/2016 8:14:00 AM
Such an amazing poem, Kai. Congratulations on your well-deserved Trophy First Place win in Julia's Premiere contest. 7 Sandra
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 7/9/2016 10:17:00 AM
Thank you very much Sandra for your comment and praise.
Date: 7/9/2016 3:59:00 AM
I am awed by this magnificent piece Kai! Congratulations on your deserving first place! 7 ; )
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 7/9/2016 10:18:00 AM
Thank you so much for your comment and encouragement Connie.
Date: 7/7/2016 6:11:00 PM
Congrats Kai, for your well, deserved first placement in the contest!! :-)
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 7/8/2016 10:54:00 AM
Thank you Teddy. I am chuffed and did not expect that win. So encouraging.
Date: 7/7/2016 2:57:00 PM
A wow of a poem, Kai !! Well done, and well deserved !!
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 7/8/2016 10:54:00 AM
Thank you Carrie for your comment and support. Chuffed to bits.
Date: 7/7/2016 1:09:00 PM
Very deserving Kai, congratulations...
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 7/8/2016 10:55:00 AM
Thank you Charlie. I will just keep on writing and writing...
Date: 7/7/2016 8:35:00 AM
Wow! very deep read. Congratulations on the well earned win :)
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 7/8/2016 11:10:00 AM
Thank you very much for your encouragement. But I like your poem very much as well.
Date: 7/7/2016 2:22:00 AM
I was thrilled with your poem. Congratulations on winning the trophy in my contest!
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Ward Avatar
Julia Ward
Date: 7/8/2016 11:47:00 AM
You're most welcome! :)
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 7/8/2016 11:10:00 AM
Thank you very much Julia. Thank you as well for shaping the contest.
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