Jozi

I run uphill for some way,
mostly on an easy pavement,
and partially on a jarring dirt track,
I resentfully enjoy a route
against which I am free to struggle.
The path gradually starts to flatten out,
I breathe heavily with relief,
strain not regretted.
I think of the houses I run past,
or of the squatter camps 
too painful to see.
I think of the towering slum,
once a magnificent tyrant,
now usurped and left for dead 
by a tyrant of the restless new world
not twenty miles to the north.
I reach the halfway point and turn.
I run downhill, back the way I came,
my legs work with a lesser rebellion,
the morning becomes brighter
and the evening less spiteful.
I enter the last straight line,
more or less flat 
for a couple of hundred yards,
I stretch my legs and open my stride,
my muscles burn, achingly free,
for a moment I cannot be caught.
Still, running into the morning
and away from the night,
my ankles remain idiotically shackled
and for some reason I cannot outrun 
Johannesburg's hard earned pain.

13th November 2018

urbanfree verse

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Anil Deo

May 31, 2020 at 5:23 AM

Lawrence, I am so glad you shared this, about our common country & its famed city JOZI. I wonder where these multitudes in jondolos/ slums were hidden before: "I think of the houses I run past, or of the squatter camps too painful to see." No doubt, so many of us miss the "cleanliness & order" we had under apartheid. Maybe democracy is messy, imperfect, but the best we have right now (Churchill said so??)

Lawrence Sharp

May 31, 2020 at 9:48 AM

Thanks for visit and comment, Anil. I can't say I miss anything from the Apartheid era, because it was a brutal, nasty business. What I do long for is that which might have been accomplished, but wasn't, after democracy was established.

Kai Michael Neumann

November 18, 2018 at 5:32 AM

Ouch, that run hurts. I did not know that your are living in Jozi. My wife and I are in the process of relocating from there to Spain. Kai

Lawrence Sharp

November 19, 2018 at 6:15 AM

Sounds like a major change, which is usually a good thing. Enjoy.

Robert Lindley

November 17, 2018 at 9:53 AM

My dear friend, your verses cast a spell upon me as I read. They have such depth, insight and imagery as to compel the reader to read over again to try to absorb their beauty and their evidence of such great creativity and emotional depths . A fav..

Lawrence Sharp

November 17, 2018 at 2:15 PM

Thanks Robert, your encouragement is always very deeply appreciated.

Freddie Robinson Jr.

November 15, 2018 at 10:38 PM

Powerful poetry, Lawrence! It moves the spirit, and breathes w/vitality. Such an inspired write. Great poetry, my dear friend. Love and more love always.

Lawrence Sharp

November 16, 2018 at 7:18 AM

Thank you, RomWar, greatly appreciated, as always.

Mystic Rose Rose

November 14, 2018 at 11:48 AM

Life can be at torturous place of no reprieve. I believe only stamina of heart can take us far beyond this cruel place we call earth. You poetry brings a ache and a spark of hope all in one. Have a great day, thank you for sharing dear poet.

Lawrence Sharp

November 14, 2018 at 12:03 PM

Thank you so much Pix, very pleased that you enjoyed.

Vijay Pandit

November 13, 2018 at 2:03 PM

This poem feels really special, Lawrence..indicative of the ups and downs your country faced I assume. You tackled a difficult theme extremely well..enjoyed reading your poem.

Lawrence Sharp

November 14, 2018 at 9:45 AM

Thanks, Vijay, I'm glad you enjoyed; I suppose any large city has very similar conflict and turmoil, but yes, a lot about the conflicts and turmoil experienced in my own homeland and adopted hometown.