Red Fez
[ Poet’s Note : Image link in comments section to poem, since unable to insert here.
This poem is a Companion Poem
to ‘rubble waved smile less’ : ‘26]
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[ Artist : Iqraa Daniels
2012 Sketch : 19x21cm on
tea stained edgeburnt
parchment :
medium : black ink
title : unnamed]
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[Placed : 2nd
Contest: Ekphrasis: July 26
Sponsor: Silent One ]
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Crowned by red fez of ancestors observing
he pained to see our cottage crumbling
sitting grimacing on opposite cracking stoep*
neighbours’ sorrow could only gaping look
His thick snow beard which I so caressed as maiden, then auburn, shivered slightly at bulldozer behest ~ it was a human dark quest
externalising ignorance through flatland molest
Slowly I accepted dim fate without hate when brown envelope arrived dictating removals
from fertile land of loamy sand where jovial
tanned talented families scruples shovelled
as teachers, craftspeople, artists ceremonial
No more was this joyful space of hot loaves
and laughter to be morning glory purpled sea
Table Mountain protecting straight spines be
connecting stevedores with musicians divine
My heart heavy with his tears he could not shed
though continued I to roll koeksuster* bread coiffed my Victorian style, starched collar with brooch ~ what to do when community hollered
hens with chicks into green hills had fled ~
Cataracted I eyed my steady warrior of ways
our mahogany cupboard with knitwear boxed
on removal lorry, sorry ~ I could but attempt to flow, as soul fragments wandered across
tattered grass blows, trying to glow in torrential existential tears translucent down torso —-
wisdom knows …
Forever will my Love’s confused dread at human
cruelty, greed to seed on land not theirs to smash
live in district’s psyche before blue harbour of sailors and tailors — rash were rulers smirky avarice nights ~
Behind his rhomboid aging muscles my frail body will stand with basket, owl a guide with camel resilience I ride, thoughts to grey demarcated maisonette they dished, where now we must remake anew, as they stew in our grief with a left-behind shoe (...)
red fez as crown frowns
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*stoep : Afrikaans equivalent for porch
*koeksuster : a Cape Malay doughnut type
sweetbread dipped in syrup and coconut,
usually eaten by this community as a
Sunday breakfast meal
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