slip-sliding away…..

The sports field ahead sits lush,
green carpet well watered
by four straight days of rain;
an icy welcome
to the season of abundance I so treasure.

Giant clouds drift slowly
in the sky above,
a smush of blue, white, and grey,
with a tinge of orange
as the sun prepares
to set
behind the mountain in the distance.

A runner makes his way past
on the road behind,
while cars rush by
on the highway ahead,
everyone eager
to make it home
as the work week winds down,
with just Friday left to come.

A man sits in his car,
phone on loudspeaker,
probably in a meeting,
while another walks,
leash in hand,
giving joy to a dog
who’s probably been cooped up all week.

Ibises, crows, and doves meander,
drinking from puddles in the parking lot,
while Egyptian Geese –
the loudest of them all –
wander the grass,
feeding as they drop nasty surprises
for those yet to venture onto the field.
Their shoes will learn the lesson soon enough…

Election posters lay fallen,
political aspirations of many shattered
in what some call a rigged process,
as the masses await outcomes
of coalition government talks,
and the miracle of two months without load shedding*
threatens to swiftly depart…
confirmation –
if it happens –
that this electrical stability
was merely a ploy for votes,
and now that they have no further use for the public,
our disesteemed leaders
can revert to their default shenanigans…

A country 30 years into democracy
held hostage
by the corruption and disintegration
of a party who worked so hard –
with many other groups –
to bring down the oppression of Apartheid.

The light is fading,
and my time here will soon end.
A bi-weekly sojourn
with silence as my friend.

And as I wrap up,
and these thoughts quickly perish,
I wish you a good weekend,
make it a time to cherish.

* “Load shedding” refers to rotational electricity cuts which have plagued South Africa since 2007.