Monday, May 19, 2008



Within my soul, within my mind,
There lies a place I cannot find.
Home of my heart, land of my birth.
Smoke Coloured stone and flame-coloured earth.
Electric skies, shivering heat.
Blood-red clay beneath my feet.
At night when finally alone,
I close my eyes - and I am home.
I kneel and touch the blood warm sand
and feel the pulse beneath my hand
of an ancient life too old to name
In an ancient land too wild to tame.

How can I show you what I feel?
How can I make this essence real?
I search for words in dumb frustration
To try and form some explanation,
but how can heart and soul be caught
In one dimensional written thought?

If love and longing are a "fire"
And man "consumed" by his desire,
then this love is no simple flame
That mortal thought can hold or tame.

But what is home I hear them say,
This never was yours anyway.
You have no birthright to this place,
Descendant from another race.
An immigrant? A pioneer?
You are no longer welcome here.

Whoever said that love made sense?
"I love" is an "imperfect" tense.
To love in vain has been man's fate.
From history to present date.
I have no grounds for dispensation,
I know I have no home or nation.

For just a moment in the night.
I am complete, my soul takes flight.
For just one moment...then it's gone
and I am once again undone.
Never complete. Never whole.
White Skin and an African Soul.







5 comments:

Julia said...

Beautiful photos! When can we take a trip to your homeland?

Michelle said...

Hi Julia

How nice to find my poem used to illustrate your lovely photos. :-)

If you want to read any more of my poems you can find them here: http://re-flec-tions.blogspot.com/

Erica said...

Your poem expresses so much. I admire your ability to make thoughts and feelings tangible! Thank you!!!

Michelle said...

Hi Erica

Just relised I had not come back to see your reply and only then saw I'd got your name wrong.

Sheeesh!

For what you said about my poem - thank you. I love the fact my poem is enjoyed by people. and sorry I got your name wrong!

Ian said...

I would dearly love to contact the author of the poem "within my soul, within my mind....."with the view of using her work in a book I am writing about my work and travels
Ian van Zyl
www.ianvanzyl.com
artist@mweb.co.za