Rhynie made me his aromatic cappuccino.
This is after a day long lecture in a forest conference room
connecting to astonished souls:
post graduate academics, students of my friend Frans, who initially thought
poetry is an obscurity, privileged for the anointed,
until words started to wing from their eyes, their lips, their fingertips.
Your hair looks nice, Myra. You look great.
The soft, sincere compliment of my brother-in-law soothed me with simplicity
and with warmth, in much the same way as his superb coffee.
My sister Isabel sits with me, solemnly, with her thoughtful smile,
while I recall dancing vibrant love into the lives of dedicated social researchers.
We sisters often speak without words: glances and timeless giggles.
I ripped a red saree apart to make myself a Valentine's outfit a few hours before,
in less than one minute, after I discovered that my red tights were footless
and simply did not go with my standard black pants, which I usually wear
as professional working gear.
Amanda, my youngest sister, draped me in gold, with intensity and focused
creativity,which made her a very loved individual amongst her patients at the Green Acres Hospital.
In less than one hour I arrived at the other end of the PE Metropole.
Sharlene, my lifelong school friend and her husband Kobus, planned
a surprise Valentine's dinner at a restaurant in the Casino complex.
I now enter this heart-wrenching hell of addiction, and saw zombies,
row upon row, zooming in on Mammon. I stand paralyzed, staring.
At our table in the restaurant, I use my sparse Xhosa to address the waitress in her mother-tongue. She glows with glee ... and on our departure, gifted me with a red rose.
The lady at the security counter does not believe that I never before entered a casino.
Where do you stay? she asks with a skeptic smile.
Ah, I answer, in Myra-world.
Nearing midnight, we stroll around the lake, and come to a deserted Merry-go-round, where Sharlene prompts me to force myself into a tiny carriage! I rolled myself into a ball and managed to get inside, with giggles and with sighs: Cinderella turns pumpkin!
When I finally stand under the shower at 1 am, after 20 hours on my feet,
dashing from Bluewater Bay, to Kraggakamma, to Humewood, to Despatch,
to Summerstrand, and back to Despatch, meeting with souls
from different parts of their own worlds, I know that in the Divine Core of Love,
on this a Valentine's Day, we all brought to the platter of hope
a morsel of what we think may feed our hunger and our yearning to be whole.
It is 6 am when I wake with the soft drizzle of rain. I rise in prayer, and sit listening to the song of rejuvenation on roof and on thirsty soil. Careful not to wake anyone, I pack my clothes, shower and dress. At the breakfast table, I suddenly find warm tears gliding down my cheeks, to the amazement of my friends. Life is so overwhelming at times.
On my return journey, my daughter phones and asks where she must leave my post box key and is amazed to hear I am already on my way back home. She says that she loves me. Ek is ook lief vir jou, Porseleintjie ...
At the bypass near Storms River, two little children, not older than 4 and 6 respectively, wave at me: a zesty greet of good morning. I wave back with a broad grin. The little one jumped up and down in glee at my acknowledgement, shouting a smile to his brother next to him. Sometimes to be seen is enough ...
I am now back in Eden, George, South Africa -- connected to reality with passion and with excitement: what will tomorrow bring?
Welcome to Myra-world, Soul ... I love you.
Author notes
Photo: Myra on Valentine's Day 2009 with her one minute outfit
In a list
A contest entry
- Simple by silverscent.
600 points, ended March 8, 22 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 34 of 34
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This is very well written. I loved the ideas and descriptions you used. Different to any of the other entries in the contest actually. Thanks for entering.
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Obsession is a mighty price to pay for any creature comfort. Zombies, yes. I wore a no minute outfit and was not noticed by anyone. I was OK with that.
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Actually, Poet ...
I tend to go invisible as soon as I am seen. People think they hallucinate.
It gives me much pleasure for it is a way of translucency ...
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I am often told I am transparent, too. I am not sure if that is a compliment in my case...
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all of this is simply lovely and a wonderful sharing of your day and moments - and the thoughts along the way. as for the outfit - one minute or ten hours... it's simply as gorgeous as the words.
-- Kim
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Thank you, Kimmy ...
for the warmth of your response. I am grateful that my life touched your heart.
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I am so glad God allowed me to be a tiny part of Myra's world. May the love you spread return to you tenfold. Good luck in the contest.
Sincerely,
Leo Long
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Our worlds touched and it is fun to know you, Leo ...
and I saw the vastness of growth in your own world. Thank you for sharing with me your happiness, too, Friend.
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There is something welling in me about a way to find the right attitude to aloneness. It is our ultimate reality... And we must make peace with it. I started to say how I will to you the lack of absence... That i exist, wish you well, and you are precious to me... But even in that, you must have faith; that even though we share an essence through the miracle of letters and keyboard, and I marvel at this manifestation of your beautiful soul, we are alone. "Without faith, it is impossible to please God..." and yet faith drives us to take the next breath. I would love to sit at your feet, and contemplate what you have discovered. You are making a huge difference in this world. Have faith.
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Drugs are a man made feeling that is a poor substitute for a touch of God...
I see you. -
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Thank you for being a friend with a future perspective of divine grasp.
And for encouraging me in a world so shallow, it makes me shudder. I thank God for souls like you who carry heaven in moist eyes.
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My life is much more mundane and unhappy. An engineers mind and a poets soul. How could I avoid it really? I hope to strike a balance someday.
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I cannot take any credit for happiness in my life ...
I think if you look closely, you will find its gift in your life too, like our friendship. Thank you for being my friend.
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I really enjoyed reading this, Myra - it was like a priveleged peep into your soul, a warm and lovely place to be.
Take care always,
Bill
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Thank you Bill, for truly seeing me ...
behind the walls I sometimes build to protect me. Not one soul is perfect, but my love for God, and for souls, nature, music and art, and laughter, makes forgiveness inevitable. How can we not forgive, when we are forgiven? I take every day with its sadness and its joy, for life is indeed a privilege and a gift of poetry.
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It's nice to share your time - you live in beauty.
I have been to a casino once. The restaurant was pretty good, but we decided it was not entertaining. Your phrase is so expressive of this, "zombies, row upon row, zooming in on Mammon." Well done.
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Beloved Margaret ...
I have people like you in my life, so wise, so sincere ... and then others who would want to get out of their fakeness and want to become real ... I have rich and poor, on all levels, touching me. I am what I am by all who give to me their best AND their worse. And by that I am growing. We are all builders of our own destiny, and in that we are part of other little worlds like ours, in HIS vast World of Love and Forgiveness. Thank you for you in my life, my Friend.
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If only we could all have a little more Myra-world in our part of the world. Nice to meet you, even with a hectic schedule, you wear it well.
What a vivid write. What a talented writer you are. You take the reader with you wherever you go . . . thank you.
Garrison
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Hallo Garrison!
I wrote this half asleep and laughed when I see all the typos and gaps! Often I dreamwalk life, and sleep and awakenness is one a part of the other ... Thank YOU, friend, that you too are part of my world, you awasome Poet!
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The tears at breakfast perhaps indicated you were going to get Talie on the phone with her wonderful message. Instants in the life of a blessed soul. Ack.
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Ah Chris!
You were very much part of my world during the lectures, for without your refinement of the Divine Connectivity Graphic I would not have such a colorful exit presentation! Thank you SO much, Friend!
This was truly a tough exercise in abstract thoughts ... connected to real life and spirituality. But slowly the students started to grasp the concept and suggested their own healing solutions for different sectors of society! I was thrilled. I am looking forward to expand in brain storming my reation input healing with FransB. He is simply a work of wonder in dedication and in endopathic guidance to souls.
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Happy to meet you pretty poetess. You look great!Good luck in the contest
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I did look like a clown, Beautiful Eyes ...
but I loved every moment! There are so many unsaid moments of miracles, people would not believe me ... Often my friends say my life is more fantastic than fiction! And yes, it is true: I never write fiction! There is no need for that.
Thank you for your loyal support, Judy. I appreciate it sincerely ...
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Nice of you to share a wonderful write, and you are a beautiful, talented person that i am honored to say is a favorite...crafty too...nice dress. Blessings
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I am glad that we met on Allpoetry, Denerica ...
and that I can bring some warmth especially to you, as you do to me! You made me grin, for that word "crafty" has many meanings in my book! Red is not my favorite color, but it is the color of my love, and of my Love. And it links me to you with the passion of endearment, beloved One. Thank you for being my friend.
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Now it takes some talent to make clothes but in one minute!! You've out done yourself my dear friend, wonderfully written here as well Hope Valentine's Day was a lovely one for you C
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If there is one who knows about my struggle in standing alone ...
in a world that cannot believe my essence, then it is you, Cheryl. Thank you for being compassionate in your reaching out to me, and for being part of my stargazer awareness here on Allpoetry with your amazing writings of your reality. This year Valentine's Day was so overwhelming, I had to redefine Love! The facets thereof is just too vast to contemplate ... for it may also shimmer in rejection and in anger ...
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Ah, Myra
you look as beautiful as ever! Thanks for braving the road and weather to bring 'valintine' to my students. This I appreciate very much. Frans
Ps
I spend a wet rain-dripping night trying to catch up some sleep after you and Org left.
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Frans ... WOW!
What an experience! To link German, Xhosa, English and Afrikaans with the Language of Love, truly is your forté! No wonder the students cannot depart after such a session. I am happy and thrilled by the Valentine experience; frustrated that the day was too short to fit in all (I am sad that I missed the after party -- I would have loved to meet with last year's students again!); even more frustrated that we could not fit in some time to discuss the last section of the lecture, Divine Connectivity.
We will forever be excited by purpose and by growth right into Eternity, not so Friend? Thank you so much for including me in your program -- I have no words to describe my gratitiude.
Ps. I reread and saw the result of my yawning pen! LOL I left out PHRASES ... my mind hopping over words! Hopefully it is now corrected. Thanks, Friend.
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OH, what a day. Nice piece of poetical prose. I am glad to meet you, Myra After all, you need to take a rest, no?
~Sonja~
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Ah Sonja!
My mother used to say: Eternity is our time of rest! AND: only lazy bones list their works!
So: I can really improve much, can't I?
Thank you so much for reading my work and for your reminder that I am but flesh and bone ...
The rest of this semester is even more hectic
... Please pray for me. I need to improve my life skills: planning better!
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Welcome to the club This is what every day I say to myself - take a rest - when I am back home, and instead to take a rest I simply take just another "small thing" to finish, always saying: just this one. I know how it goes with colleges and faculties. I am working with students, organizing meetings and international symposiums for more than 500 participants... than preparing my reading at many cultural societies and libraries... and home is just another story - never ending job.
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Original structure
Very original....nice thought provoking piece...the ending lines, were simply beautiful.
really tied everything together
great take on an everyday reality
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Thank you for reading my work ...
and for the warm response ...
I love your ID! Clinging to life is such a wondrous, enticing phrase, that left me ponder ... I shall read your Author's page and your work as soon as I get to it, right, dear One? Welcome to my world ...
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