Beginnings and endings

Helena Reid

So does this beginning have an end?
Will you, my lover, stay my friend?
Or will you stand
tied in suit, square shoulders,
briefcase, newspaper in hand
back turned to me, blocking the light?
While my tongue rambles on about
Summer fruits, beach days,
unscaled mountains, undiscovered delights…
will you tap-tap your fingers
impatiently?

Passing each other
On elevators, in lifts
Not casting a look aside
To greet, to see
Our minds filled with worries,
figures, bonds, contracts…

Unplugged, we lose contact
From our faces, colour's drained,
power from our hearts…
Is this what they mean when they say
'drifting worlds apart'?

Wider and wider the circles that we dance
now and again touching hands
Then whirling away, each on his own tract
What has drawn us together
Now lacks …

So it's back to the beginning every day,
brick upon brick
walling us in, forcing us to stay.
keeping the vastness around us at bay.

Because once freed, I fear
we might never come back
To us, to we,
To you and me.

LitNet: 10 September 2004

Did you enjoy this poem? Have your say! Send your comments to webvoet@litnet.co.za, and become a part of our interactive opinion page.

back    /     to the top

© Kopiereg in die ontwerp en inhoud van hierdie webruimte behoort aan LitNet, uitgesluit die kopiereg in bydraes wat berus by die outeurs wat sodanige bydraes verskaf. LitNet streef na die plasing van oorspronklike materiaal en na die oop en onbeperkte uitruil van idees en menings. Die menings van bydraers tot hierdie werftuiste is dus hul eie en weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van die redaksie en bestuur van LitNet nie. LitNet kan ongelukkig ook nie waarborg dat hierdie diens ononderbroke of foutloos sal wees nie en gebruikers wat steun op inligting wat hier verskaf word, doen dit op hul eie risiko. Media24, M-Web, Ligitprops 3042 BK en die bestuur en redaksie van LitNet aanvaar derhalwe geen aanspreeklikheid vir enige regstreekse of onregstreekse verlies of skade wat uit sodanige bydraes of die verskaffing van hierdie diens spruit nie. LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.