Outsider

The room is crammed to the rafters
With happy people
Laughing, chatting and dancing
Eating and drinking
Dressed in a beautiful, red dress
She's in the centre of it all
The life and soul of the party
"So why do I feel like an outsider?” she asks
I have no words to help her.

A poem for my daughter

By Debbie Buckwalter (my sister)

Her heart smells of purity
Her smile full of gold
Her eyes nothing but true
And her greatness simple

She has a fierce love
Ferocious loyalty and a gentle soul
Her hands are like plush velvet
All soft-like and safe

She sees saints and hears angels
Says words that heal wounds
She dreams of paradise
Of an incessant peace

Her walk is brave
Her words, shy
Her will, precociously sure
She is stunning

Transformation

By Debbie Buckwalter (my sister)

You sit alone and listen
The city speaks softly
The wind whispers to the night
Pleading, cajoling, making promises.

The sun has long waved goodbye
The night has embraced it
Taken far away to a safe haven
For a well-deserved rest.

They all speak, the stars
To the moon they murmur
Secret imaginings and requests
Never to be heard nor understood.

Dawn kisses the night softly
A red hue sits on the mountains
The voices of the city grow louder
As we collide with the world.

April

April is the time to prepare
For the coming winter
Time to clean falling leaves
Rake the yard and
Create mulch for the coming winter.

April is the time to
Take off the summer curtains
Wash and pack them away
Hang thick, winter curtains
Ready to cocoon in winter

April is the time to clean the house
Move furniture around
Scrub and wipe the summer sloth
Make the rooms cosier

April is a time to
Clean out the creative cobwebs
Create new tales and legends
To regale the children
Over weekend nights

I miss you (A poem)

I Miss You
By Agisanang Mokua and Obakeng Phiri (Agisanang is my nephew and an aspiring poet)

Every time I cry
There is no one to hold me
Every time I’m sad
There is no one to smile at me.

When problems come my way
I have no-one to help me solve them
My life is a nightmare
My enemies attack me
And I have no one to support me

Sometimes I wish I was with you
Sometimes I wish I could disappear
But one thing keeps me strong
My memories of you
I miss you

The morning after

She cooks bacon and eggs for breakfast
A special treat for the family
He hugs and kisses her
Thanks her for a nice meal.

A pretty picture they paint
I can almost forget
The sound of his fist on her face
Her body crashing on the cupboard
With a thud

The shouts and insults of the night before
The taste of fear and shame
At his rage ......

"Niki hurry up!"
My friend Anna calls from the door
"The principal will make us clean the yard
If we’re late for school."

I grab my bag
Feet pounding and breath heaving
Anna and I run to get to school on time

No matter how fast, I run
I cannot escape
The sound of my father’s fist
On my mother’s face
Her body crashing onto the cupboard
With a thud

Across the sea

I have a warm and friendly feeling
As I think of you today
I wish we could visit
But you are many miles away

Your friendship becomes most dear
Everytime we speak.
Your calls bring you closer to my heart
For your soul shines through
Across the miles and sea.

Deaf and blind

I lie on my bed, curtains drawn, blankets over me
Pretending to be asleep, trying not to make a sound
She calls my name, asks me if I’m alright
I have to talk to you, she says
Your brother is ok

Trapped in horror and shame
I want to shout, rage and ask her:
How could you let him hurt your son like that?
Will you let him hit me like that?

I am too afraid to say it
Because I know she is as helpless as we are
Fears him as we do, loves him as we do
Our dear father

I am invisible, I am spellbound
As he hits and kicks, shouts and swears
Deaf and blind to my brother’s pleas
Mesmerized by the violence and the blood

As quickly as it begun, it ends
Mama comes to life, rushes to her my brother’s side
I am so sorry, she cries
Hugging him, wiping the tears and blood
I am invisible to them both

Shattered by fear and guilt
The bitter taste of shame on my tongue
I slink off to my room
Under the dark of blankets
My world of quiet and peace

Are you okay, Mama asks
But all I see is the look on her face,
While she wiped blood from my face
Smoothed cream on my aching body
That day not so long ago

Please, please, please, she begged
Don’t ever interfere again, try to be invisible
And whatever happens, do nothing, say nothing

I’m fine, I say
I don’t tell her, that I fear my turn will come again
He will slap, hit and kick, shout and swear at me
And all will be invisible, deaf and blind to my pleas