For almost 2 years, I’ve been working on an anthology of my more creative writings from the past 15 or so years – which I intend to publish as a book. It’s been a stop-start project, but the content is finally all in place.

I now need to get the final parts done – including typography and layout – which is the sticky point, because it’s a decision of whether to look for a publishing company (which would handle that), or go it alone (as I did with the Hajj Chronicles project).

I actually do have a publisher that would be willing to work on it as a printed book, but the problem comes in the costing. A big part of the book is visual – meaning I need it to be printed in colour. That will be an obstacle in terms of whether this goes to print, especially since I don’t intend to promote the book as most writers would (and would be expected form publishers)…so sales wouldn’t cover the costs.

The other option is an e-book, and there are options aplenty in that space. I’m stalling on that decision, and with life so full, I’m not making much progress on getting the final work completed.

But I need to move things forward, so I’d like to release bits and pieces of it on this blog (which is what this post is). I’m hoping that some feedback from you guys will act as motivational force in pushing me to get it done at last.

So, without further ado, here’s the very first poem in the book….

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A bird’s eye view

While the world goes on below,
I am free, I am calm.
A place, so far from them all – yet
close enough to reach quickly.

On this day, I am thankful for
its absolute beauty.

That I am able to experience, in my life,
such beauty.

In the sky, almost…clouds so close,
the warmth of the sun, on this otherwise
chilly summer day.

I see the ocean on one side,
the mountains bordering them.
The bay on the other side:
foamy white waves, crashing
on the shore –

So lively where they are,
yet distant from where I sit,

Perched up here, the starlings
stopping by on occasion.
I’m in their world now:
a place high up, where
the beauty of this world
can be seen.

The world below stretches out,
but I look not at it,
for down there is activity:
busy-ness, and business;
running around; rushing here and there.

Work to do, people to call,
places to be.
I revel in this break – this
window of solitude.

A peaceful existence up here…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back on earth, however, life goes on
as usual.

And though my window is shut again, for now,
I am happy to have my perch, my safe-haven…
for up there, I don’t need anything.

I don’t need anyone.
It’s just me, the sky, the birds (on occasion),
and my Creator.

So rare – nowadays – are moments like this –
a time to stop.
a time to be free:
free of my world,
free of my usual reality.

A new world. A new vision.

Lying with one eye covered,
I’m almost floating in the clouds:
engulfed in blue and white;
no longer constrained by the physical limits down below:
no buildings, no trees,
no electricity or concerns to capture my time.

I am free of all that. I am free of the world.

It’s serene – being detached from it all;
being up where there’s nothing
but fresh air…
no desperation, no deception,
no temptation…just here and now.

Nothing else matters.
Just here and now.

I could die now…leave my life behind,
because this is peace.
This is my Blessed place.
And I hope to always have
this – or the like thereof…

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Date written: October 2006

Background:
This was the first poem I ever shared publicly. At the time, I was blessed to be working at one of the world’s most beautiful university campuses. And while I really appreciated the nature and sights around me, I was at a difficult stage in life: living alone for the first time, and feeling bogged down by the responsibilities of grown-up life (which, before then, I had sought to run away from and hadn’t really faced full-on).

In the midst of all this, I found a place of refuge – a hidden-away spot on the campus’s highest rooftop – where I could escape from the world, and to some degree, my life, and just be alone – in solitude.

I spent many serene moments there, never encountering a single soul on that rooftop. When I went up there, I had a 360 degree view of pure beauty:

• To my right: the Muizenberg coast and parts of the Table Mountain range that stretch to the South.
• Behind me: Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak.
• To my left: the Atlantic Ocean and coastal areas.
• In front of me: Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs – set against the backdrop of the Ceres mountains.

It was undisturbed solitude – a setting that comforted my soul, and helped my cluttered mind break free – momentarily – of the physical, psychological, and emotional burdens that weighed so heavily on me during this difficult phase of my life. It was just the kind of exclusive hideaway I needed, and I’m extremely grateful to have had time there.