Fieldwork is stellar, sexy, or strenuous and sad
Talking values, prolonging childhood
Is not for the faint hearted among S. Africa's "Coloured"
My "township" boasts about acting backward
Using walls for urination, or there on streets
Many walk all day long with beer in hand (never discreet)
We reward bad for good; kindness is meekness minus Jesus (equals: simple weakness)
Abusing drugs, kids, partners - "street privacy"?
Is the only "rule" respected by all and sundry
II
Shall I report these abuses, "shebeens" next door?
But the policing is poor, revenge usual & more
Or should I show the other cheek, God's love
Shall I continue peacemaking, or reward shove with shove?
Since Middle School I struggled with moochers, "the lazy"
To accept them, help, yet teach a better way
Humans seek peace, routines, "order" in some way
But competition fir resources, conflict
May be the real order of the day
Hence wars are welcome for profits, bottom lines!
My question: Love or lecture "them" is as old as Time
In my "coloured township," there is no "time" for both
I'm more pessimistic about human nature now, sad truth!
Some days it gets to me
Requests for prayer, currency
One can try quiet neutrality
But stories are hard, dependency
Here: crystal, Meth, Tik, or glass-y
U pray today, they call U "kuk" next day
It's the drug, makes voice big, manly
Others lost money, all, personality
Others want me to save their jobs
It's hard to bring them to Kerk, "slobs"
Believe they need shoes, good clothes
So I meet them anywhere, on the roads
I pick up heartbreaks, needs, dreams
Pushed my wife once, awoke for screams
NOTE: this poem was frozen on my cell for a long time. I kept sliding down the page for the POST button. I got lucky, but lost 3 poems between last night & today. My LORD knows what needs to be shared, so I'm trying to remain positive and in shalom. Shalom of Jesus the CHRIST!
grateful for my gifts along the way
managed to reach a stage
where I can look back on life
letting out a sigh of relief
mostly my sins were of omission
now I strive to look ahead
while I focus on leaving a legacy
a humble gift to the human race
I think of loved ones gone before me
and sometimes long for the afterlife
feels much like a magnetic north
pulling at my heart and soul
deep within I know that realm exists
where peace is the way of life
spiritual enlightenment the path
and a firsthand trip to earth
nothing more than compulsory fieldwork
AP: Honorable Mention 2023, Honorable Mention 2021
Symptoms are not who I am
Disease is not my name
Medication is not your fix-it-up
And treatments are not your game
My body is not your fieldwork
This machine that lets me live
My mind is not that experiment
It has yet plenty thoughts to give
Do you know what?
Choices routine and home
Those aren't yours
Please leave me alone
I don't want to take a test
Or endure such pokes and pills
I have enough going on
Without those wrecking side effect chills
Listen to my feeling
Of why I chose not intervention
You'll understand my voice
If you have the right intention
Grace and God. Beauty and life!
This is me! Potential Power Prosperity
Third grade teacher, bird watcher, world traveler
Piano player, pastry baker, flower planter
I am with my family!
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