Sizwe Hlabisa Poet Classicism

The Bridges That Are Life

I've heard them tell me 
that life is a gift ,given
I've even heard them say 
life is a journey 
Chartered upon many mountains, 
delighting to be traversed 
What say you, damsel lady!

I know life to be bushy thorns
That every road I have travelled
 has been dusty, 
rocky with the sight of potholes
 at every turn. 
The dust greeting me, 
long-lost companions 
What say they, damsel lady!

 I know life for what it is
A destination of endless walks 
I know life never cared about me!
The sun peaked and it went 
back to sleep
Never did the sun relieve me 
on this journey 
What say You, damsel lady!

The choice was never mine
Simply I was put on this path 
and pointed forward 
They told me what was north 
and I was to learn south 
and its opposing friends 
They told me life was a journey, 
but all I have known is pain.
Was pain the journey? 
Were my worn-out shoes 
the lesson I had to learn?
What say I, damsel lady!

I say, I have traversed 
the bridges that are my life
What is journey? 
Moving forward or 
travelling backwards? 
Must I even keep pacing 
when day and night have no meaning to me. 
What is walking if it invites the pain of pleasure

I say, damsel lady. I know life!
Life is no friend of mine.
This journey I have travelled, 
I am still walking. 
Where is the gift in that?
 My patience is worn through 
and my sandals are dust. 
Even these tears desert me 
for the better companionship of dust.
Loneliness is my only companion,
YES, 
maybe that is LIFE!

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Andrea Dietrich May 15, 2016 at 8:46 PM wow, this is REALLY Good, Sizwe. I am going to fave this one. It really spoke to me. Sizwe Hlabisa May 16, 2016 at 4:35 AM Thanks Andrea...coming from such a skilled poet as yourself. It means alot.

James Inman April 25, 2016 at 9:41 AM A powerful write Sizwe. A troubled life this person has lead but perhaps if they could appreciate all of the beautiful places her feet have taken her the journey wouldn't seem so long or the joy of the the bathes that they have been taken the dust might not be so thick. Sizwe Hlabisa April 25, 2016 at 2:21 PM Thanks James for stopping by. You are right about that...