never say never

[Poet’s Note in Comments Section of Poem ]

two companeros sorting revolutionary literature
in spirit’s gap unwrapping gifts knowing fresh
labour ! sabre cops might have followed us hot 
cops never come on Saturdays  —  they watch rugby* remarks she blithely
work births experience dissolving glib speak
stealthily arrived contingent of state security police    stalking 
books, pamphlets, writings, ephemera, poems 
confiscated     not lovingly touched again 
never say never self-assured confident
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

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Daniels Avatar
September 23, 2026 at 11:05 PM
[ Poet’s Notes : This historical cameo happened during the Apartheid Government era in South Africa when I was ‘on the run’ from State Security Police. We were not arrested at that time, though the large consignment of banned revolutionary literature was used as interrogation material when we were eventually arrested & detained. *The South African Security Police were notoriously known for supporting the Springboks, the country’s ‘national rugby team’, which was all “white” at that time. It is Heritage Day today in South Africa ~ so I thought of posting this memory with its philosophical underpinnings here, since political activism for National Democracy in our country is part of our/my Heritage]😊
Richards Avatar
September 24, 2026 at 12:55 AM
We have come a long way ... or have we? Building the country into something we all can be proud of, seems to have proven more difficult than mere political change. Thank you for sharing this lived experience with us, Ghairo.
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