slip-sliding away…..

It’s a common theme for me:
escaping from them all:
the world,
responsibilities,
irritations,
stresses of life.

It’s not that I hate my life so much
that I feel inclined
to escape at every chance of solitude.

I am happy.
Content
with what I have,
where I am,
my current station in life.

The departure from normality
is not always an escape
for the sake of running away.

But rather,
it’s a way to bring balance back:
block out the constant noise outside and inside.

It’s so rare to have total silence:
stillness,
solitude,
peace.

So now,
on this, my birthday,
I sit on top of the mountain:
hearing the Chinese tourists behind me,
Americans too – that unmistakable New York accent,
The French and Germans,
other Europeans,
Indians,
those from elsewhere on our continent.
A tapestry of humanity:
all gathered on this Monday morning
atop one of the World’s ‘new’ 7 wonders.

I’m alone.
Utterly. Completely.
By choice.
A choice which I didn’t need to make;
but did,
because I wanted this time out
on a milestone day.

The variety of wildlife up here amazes:
tiny yellow birds,
companions to the more familiar starlings;
Dassies;
cute and cuddly –
yet not for close proximity,
lest they take a bite.

Bees and bugs;
lizards and more.

This is their abode;
Their home.
And we humans come up here
to witness it all as a spectacle.

Pictures everywhere:
iPhones abundant,
selfie sticks,
semi-professional photographers and amateurs alike:
all capturing the sights of wonder
which they’ll no doubt cherish
when they get back down,
back to life on the ground.

Memories to impress
their friends and family with,
back in their home countries:
“Cape Town is so beautiful.
You really have to go.”
I imagine them saying.
Their currency strong enough
to make this a cheap getaway,
while us locals
struggle to afford access to these world class sites.

I wish you could see
through my eyes right now:
see the vast mountain range
stretching out in front of me;
mirrored on either side
by pure blue waters;
the Atlantic Ocean,
and further beyond,
the Indian –
where the two meet,
touch but never mix;
an invisible barrier
composed and maintained by the Creator of all.

I’ve yet to venture
to the other side of this fixture:
a side where farmlands and serenity
no longer dominate the view;
replaced by the city centre:
human engineering,
activity of the masses,
the day to day grind
of a population under siege;
threatened by crime and drought;
corrupt politicians
and societal breakdown.

But it’s all a passing observation
for these temporary visitors from afar;
they’ll soon go back
to their comfortable lifestyles,
their first world entitlements,
their lap of luxury and abundance,
while we,
here at the bottom of Africa,
feel the ever-tightening grip
of climate change and political incompetence.

But none of that matters right now.

Right now,
I’m on top of this world –
literally –
a thousand metres above the troubles of humanity.

If only I could switch off
consciousness of everything down there:
live in a bubble,
total and complete mental isolation,
to experience –
for a few hours –
life without worry.

But I know that’s not for now;
for this world isn’t meant for that kind of peace.

We’re given glimpses,
flashes,
of it in this life,
to whet our appetites
for the Hereafter:
Paradise that awaits,
though it doesn’t come cheaply.

So the struggle continues,
through days and nights,
moments of weakness and might;
our roads all different,
yet converging
to a single,
undeniable destiny:
a Day where we will all meet,
and find out
where our Eternity lies.

I pray that mine,
and yours,
is an abode
of Eternal Peace.

But until then,
farewell,
and may you fare well,
through your path’s twists and turns.

Hold on to hope,
and do your best to be strong.
Keep the bigger picture in mind,
and keep journeying to the end,
for life isn’t meant to be easy,
but it’s still beautiful, my friend.

---

Date written:

November 2017

Background:

I wrote this on my birthday, when I took a solo trip up Table Mountain. Though Summer was fast approaching, most locals weren’t going up there yet because there were still a few weeks left until schools and workplaces closed for year-end. Thus it became a chance to observe the many tourists that visit Cape Town’s shores, bringing with them an array of languages and cultures.

For me, this trip was an extended escape from normal life – a few hours where I could be totally free of responsibilities and demands, and just enjoy a milestone in a different environment, without having much concern for the day to day grind.

And though I couldn’t totally block out the reality of life’s troubles (local politics and drought being two major concerns), I was grateful to at least get some semblance of escape.