Monday, December 30, 2013

Remembering Madiba

Bitter battles fought across
With words, with silence or through force.
We talk about moving beyond the hate,
Resurrecting the future, forgetting what went.
But pent up somewhere deep inside,
The remembrance of the past still lies.
Blaming each other for the miseries ensued,
Squabbling about the past and the blaming continues.
We live in the present talking about the past,
Dream of a future built on graves of what has gone past.
But one man stood above that all,
Looking ahead and standing tall.
He unified all in what he believed
He went through turmoil in an apartheid regime.
Yet with a smile he bore it all.
Rose up stronger every time he would fall.
With humble steps every mountain he climbed.
Only to find another to conquer in sight.
He didn’t need force
Or a slugfest of words.
Just a bit of humanity and love for all.
While others talked, he walked the walk,
And did what people only dreamt of.
To build a strong future, with unity in the fray,
He broke the bridge between conflict of the past and peace of today.
Fondly known as Madiba to all,

Though Nelson Mandela has gone, his spirit will live on...

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Living in the shadows of hell

I sit alone shaking like a leaf,
Praying for someone to give me some relief,
Relief from the pain I have endured,
From the hell which has been my home for three years.


I came here to escape the exploitation at home,
To a country where poverty was supposed to be untold.
Where people were just and money would come by,
And I could bring light to my family and life.

But here I am stuck in what seems to be hell,
Living with my enemy and making darkness my friend.
 

I am frightened and unsure of whether I will live,
Ever see any life beyond the four walls I am in.

I have been threatened and warned not to move out,
Not to speak a word and stay locked up.
 

I crave for the days to put the dustbins out,
To get a glimpse of the sun and my whereabouts.

I ask for my wages to send back home
But all I get is abuses in return.
 

During the day all I do is sweep,
And when the mistress sleeps, I silently weep.
Hiding my tears when she is around
She said I will be jailed if I cry out loud.


I want to escape, to be set free,
But she said if I run they will arrest me.
I cry for help but there is no one to hear
And though it’s been three years, I feel I have wasted a lifetime here.


I am tired of cleaning, my body is giving way
My wounds aren’t healing but am still beaten every day.
I wish to talk to my family, know they are alright,
But my memories of them are diminishing and turning blight.


I tried going to the police, but was sent back
It’s her word against mine, and I am just a servant who is black.
Yes, I was poor but that was still home,
Today, for money I have lost it all.

I lost my family and my friends,
But more so my freedom to live like a human.
 

But here I am all alone,
Slaving for life and trafficked to clean someone else’s home.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Battered

I look around in disdain,
As I walk across the uneven terrain.
This was a place I once called home,
A country which I regarded as my own,
With family, friends, my daughters and sons,
But today I am all alone,
Wounded scarred and broken down.
My eyes have dried, I can't cry no more.
They say the worse is over, but I have nothing to live for.
They said it was war against the bad,
To uplift us, to free us, to fulfil our demands.
They invaded my country, brought soldiers and drones,
They killed the rulers and innocent souls.
Before my eyes I saw my worst fears unfold,
My sons prosecuted, my daughters disrobed.
Saw houses and trees that lined the streets,
Dissolve into dust and craters and covered with bloodied bodies.
I lost everything I ever had in this world,
Been tortured in ways that cannot be told.
Now like a prisoner wrapped in chains,
With other civilians I am dragged away.
"Why me?" I ask, "What have I done?"
But all I get is silence, being part of my country is reason enough.
Reason enough to think I am trouble,
Even though I am old, wounded and crippled.
Now all I am is a living corpse,
Hoping my end will come fast.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Distraught in despair

She sat in solitude
With tears strolling from her eyes
Not knowing what to think
Who she was to stand by.
On one side was her dead daughter, wrapped in white,
On the other her daughters supposed father, who let her die.
Three months ago she gave birth to her bundle of joy,
Her baby girl for whom she had dreams, to whom she gave life.
But little did she know how short lived her happiness was
When grief struck her and she plummeted into remorse.
But to add to her pain and excruciating despair
Was the identity of the murderer, for whom she also cares.
She thought the tiny tot would bring about a change of heart,
The want for a son would be overwhelmed by her innocent laugh.
Her husband who was to be her child’s father and guide,
Made sure her presence from their life was wiped.
His hatred for her knew no bounds,
As mercilessly, in poison he let her drown.
Now grief stricken, and all alone
She lost not one, but two pillars of her home.
On one side her daughter lay before her dead,
On the other her husband with handcuffs, away from her was being led.
Who was she to cry for, for what was she to be in pain,
Her daughter who was no more or husband who was taken away?
Who was she supposed to complain to, on whom could she blame
Her husband who killed her daughter, or her ill fate?
Questions hounded her and a long life at her stared
Where was she to go from here and who would understand her state?
Generations of hatred and one ill fated day
Took both her pillars - her daughter and husband away.

By Zoha Tapia

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Estranged

I stood still as you walked away,
Every step taken trampling the memories we made.
I hold out my hand wanting you to stop,
But all I could feel was my pulse drop.
I wish I could rewind the sands of time;
Bring back the happiness, get rid of the grime.
Live each moment like it will never end
All the way through till our last breath...

But now I stand here alone
Waiting for you to turn back but I know you won't.
I loved you for the person you were
But will remember you for leaving me at the altar.
From the moments of love we spent together,
It's the pain you caused I will remember forever.

I will never forget the twinkle in your eye,
The way you laughed and made me smile.
The way you saw me through my highs and lows,
Supporting every step I took.
But more than ever I will never forget
The way you turned my love into pain and regret.

By Zoha Tapia