Let Peace Reign

And if we all should close our eyes

we would never recognize

the difference between the touch of a black or a white hand

– Tarrus Riley

Advertisements

Beyond the surface

 

There is a man in town.

He has shaved his head.

Tattoos cover his whole body;

arms and fingers,

the neck, the skull

his lips, his eyelids

his face

 

I saw him tonight before midnight

on my way home.

 

A small dog walked beside him,

ran between his legs

 

I went up and asked if I could pet the dog?

 

A tiny fragile voice

said

 

Yes

He is only 14 weeks

…

 

just before leaving

I asked the dog’s name?

His name is Bluie.

 

Blue?

 

Bluie, it is  British slang for best friend

and that is what we are going to be.

said

the little gentle voice

 

As he walked away my friend

said

I saw him the other day and was afraid to look

I did not want him to think I stare,

to think I judge him.

 

Do you know how many people think I am

stupid because I am black,

because I am from Africa

 

I know.

You are talking to a man

with a beard down to his belt.

 

And little do they know

we are kind,

a  doctor in mathemathics

and I,

a teacher.

And the tattooed man

a person who will  soon be

the little dog’s

best friend

 

 

 

No Greed

Some time ago a good friend had been gathering clothes

Unconditionally given by people she knows

 

One boy

 

No country

No fixed home

No family

 

She says

please take anything you want

 

He picks only

one sweater

one t-shirt

 

She says:

Would you not like one shirt?

 

I already have three shirts, thank you

Maybe someone else need them

 

 

From the little wo/mans’ perspective

 

 

When two elephants fight,

the grass suffers

 

 

 

Helping a snail?

 

I don’t know if picking up

the snail slowly crossing  the road

and putting her/him down

in the grass on the other side

was helping?

Maybe I confused the snail?

 

 

Old hero and heroine

I love my grandparents

my mother’s mother and father

are still alive

 

A few years back my grandmother who was in her 80s had a stroke. It was a severe one and she would have died had it not been for my grandfather.

As he saw the woman he had spent his whole life with

falling down

life slowly leaving her

he managed to calm down and get her to a hospital.

He saved her life.

He loves her.

 

She lost her ability to cook and somewhat to take care of herself. She can’t dial a phone number. She even has a hard time walking and moving around. She does not leave the house alone without help.

 

This year they celebrated 60 years of marriage.

They still stand closely by each other,

gently holding each other’s hands.

They still look like they just fell in love.

 

As we talk about how things were when they were young he always tell her how beautiful she was

and still his.

She smiles and her eyes are full of love.

 

My grandmother is always positive.

She never complains allthough you can clearly see she is in pain.

She is calm and wears a smile on her face.

Always kind and thoughtful.

If someone generalize or say negative things about others

she mildly but strongly let them know that it is not OK.

For that she is my heroine.

 

Last night my grandfather had two strokes

It was late and dark but my grandmother stood up

made her way to the door of the house

walked alone down the stairs

over the road to the neighbors’ house.

She saved her husband’s life.

My grandfather.

I love her

 

I love my grandparents

 

 

The Ghost of Bob Marley?

Some times things are not the way they seem

and yet we are sure they are.

 

As a young man, or not yet a man but a boy,

I sat on the railing of a very high bridge.

my feet dangling

my eyes looking down the gorge.

 

The place I lived in seemed to be the entire world

and at the moment it was not a happy one.

 

The war hadn’t even begun for years to come

yet  inside me it was already there.

 

I thought about leaning forward and letting go.

Letting go of the thoughts that haunted me.

Letting go of my reality painfully pounding me.

And also,

letting go of life.

 

Looking back,

I don’t see why

I just did not take one step.

One step

out of my reality

to see that there is more to things than they seem.

 

Or that even though they are

the way they seem,

one step away,

one small step away,

another reality,

another adventure

is waiting.

 

 

 

I did not let go,

I just sat there

for hours

staring at the black river

making its way forward.

 

 

 

I left

with no money in my pocket

and a broken heart in my chest

to find goodness

in places and strangers I did not know.

 

I also found,

war

pain

hunger

sorrow

and things

I wish I did not see,

but

never

will I stop

flowing forward

from reality to reality

 

For what would life have been worth

had I let go of the railing

not having felt

pure

unselfish kindness

love

friendship

and

tiny moments of inner peace.

 

 

 

 

“If you are not living good,

I beg you, travel wide.

Said I am a living man

I’ve got work to do…”

Bob Marley – Soul Rebel

Mentally or physically, please step out of your reality and into another.

When you feel you can do nothing for yourself, do something for others.

Please do good.

You might find things weren’t the way they seemed.

 

 

Different colors – One people

Lets take this seed planted in South Africa and spread it all over the world

This is the song we all should be singing.

Lucky Dube your music lives on,

PERFECT LOVE!