Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Get Your Premium Membership

Poetry Forum

home recent topics recent posts search faq

DamiamV Henry - all messages by user

6/9/2017 7:34:07 AM
About Damiam Vincent Henry Swept away into a world free from poverty andinstitutionalization; born in the Cape Flats, I’m reminded coming from schooland immediately getting lost in the comic book titled “Coloureds” written bythe Trantraal Brothers. Reading became my hope. It inspired me to write.
But imagine seeing people addicted to drugs, girls forcedinto prostitution, and boys inducted into the number game. Motherless childrenwho hadn’t ate for three whole days, wearing those same clothes they wore a fewdays ago.
These are but few of many things my eyes had witnessed;although this happens everywhere.
We fought our battles from being bullied at school, makingnew friends, and vaguely hating our lives. But we’d never truly know how ourmother would do char jobs just to keep us in school. Or how she starved herself so that wewouldn’t attend school hungry; many mothers can relate. But growing up andlater moving to Delft. Our mother becameeven more protective over my brothers and I…who could blame her. We’ve lived just about everywhere and eventhough we pretended getting used to the idea of staying in one place. We thought life was cruel. But our mother hadan antidote to escaping from the “cruel life.” Funny, she’d give each of us a Huisgenoot while attended to the people’swashing, and doing dishes. And we’d belost in “Liewe Heksie” and trying to complete the crossword puzzle. She had hereye on us even when it seemed she was pre-occupied.

Now, residing in Stellenbosch and being away from mymother’s home…I’m reminded by her words she’d always quote: “A mother’s work isnever done.” And now being a father of two, understanding what she meant afterall this time.

I dreamt of changing the Cape Flats but it never crossed mymind that our entire world needed fixing. As one of my role models said:“Wishing for the impossible is a flat stone skipping across water, bouncing off the surface, countless times beforesinking.”
Yes, failure is inevitable, but literature will always bebeautiful.

My mother stood firm in her beliefs that we represent Godwherever we go, and now being in Stellenbosch. I’m hoping to do so through mywriting.

Damiam Vincent Henry
pages: 1



Powered by AspNetForum 6.6.0.0 © 2006-2010 Jitbit Software