Rainbow Nation

Poet's Notes

(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Kai Michael Neumann.

South Africa has been called the Rainbow Nation, once Apartheid had fallen.

The Dop system was and is still used to pay farm laborours in part with cheap vine instead of money.

Dagga is the South African term for marijuana.

'One Day at a Time' is the motto and mantra of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

'It works, when you work it, so work it, you are worth it'.

In South Africa the 'classification' Black White Coloured and Indian has no derogatory connotation.

Black people call themselves black and so on...

Rainbow Nation Blanca is white like beautiful snow in the Drakensberg Mountains she snorted star powder past the perforated septum into her brain Black as coal from the underworld mines in Mpumalanga Melanie had her stomach pumped and purged while sleeping off darkness Amber is coloured mixed race in the Rainbow of Nations her work still paid in dop cheap vine that slaves her away in alcoholic trance Arnav of Indian descent was hooked on dagga grown by the ocean converted to heroin sold her frail body and skin for brown liquid sugar Jacobus Bandele Lungelo and Bhavin shared needles and comfort on the streets of Johannesburg flirted with disaster drug related crime and their dealers cracked at the dawn longed for dust in the dusk Drugs do not respect colour gender ability social class and religion all druggies are equal with craving dependency not restricted to some Now united in rehab like the state of the nation they all stood at the table of mountains with one foot in the grave at the cliff face of habit One day at the moment they now battle their demons resist the temptation for only the time being from one morning away from the devious mourning one drug line not taken one fall off the wagon shunned and avoided for now They have all chased the dragon for far too long and imbibed with the devil for so many wretched days and nights of delusion torment addiction and pain Again once more each day anew their only chance to abstain one day at the time

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Jannie Breedt

Date: 4/12/2017 12:57:00 AM

Hi Kai, i am gobsmacked about the theme . Its really how broken we have become as a nation and how difficult.the healing process. Moving slightly away from abstract , you embraced this painful subject with such empathy. This is what I like. Its reality and you know what the hell is going on

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 4/13/2017 7:32:00 AM

Thank you Jannie, we have to march and protest and how to avoid the BLF swinging their knobkerries...

Laura Leiser

Date: 3/16/2017 3:54:00 PM

What a powerful and achingly sad message you portray in your incredible, skillful poetry, Kai. This poem should be out there in the public eye as a precautionary warning of the devastation of illegal drug addiction. 7++

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 3/17/2017 3:49:00 AM

Thank you Laura. I will send the poem to some addiction magazines. Drug addiction is a world wide phenomenon and it is very, very common in South Africa. Many wishes, Kai

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 3/16/2017 6:26:00 AM

Potent write Kai, had me engaged and wincing. 7 xomo

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 3/17/2017 3:51:00 AM

Thank you Maureen for reading, liking and commenting. Many wishes, Kai