Peeves, Perspectives and The Flag

They gag on our flag - 

 the old was "better". 

how was it better

being thrown off beaches; 

out of trains, 

buried in drains -

barred from restaurants; 

forced to enter side gates; 

fed 2nd rate education; 

kicked from our homes; 

forcibly moved and 

imprisoned for crossing the

 "immorality act"; 

beaten and tortured; 

murdered; 

kicked and head-butted 

for not having a pass; 

playing music in secret places; 

stealing away to indulge in the arts; 

punished and 

whipped when caught; 

earning painful salaries; 

called supervisor not 

original designer;

transferring your skills

for nought. 

How was it better 

when bodies went missing; 

domestic workers

raped and harassed; 

mixed babies born;

not by men black or brown; 

how was life better when we couldn't move beyond our space after 6.

what joy was derived when 

unable to fulfil your desired ambition because your colour wasn't right -

ambushed and killed 

for fighting darkness and evil.

If freedom of speech was a man

one could say he died a "million" deaths.

How is the old justified  

when we were denied representation -

Barricaded and shut down,

Barbed and buried alive;

gassed and shot in the back.

fenced to die 

by our own hand -

A master-minded plan;

"Strip hope and over populate".

some like me escaped 

these gruesome deeds - 

others died.

I grew up protected;

I lived as in a dream

I awakened from my trance

to enter purgatory;

the terror of dead men walking.

My mind opened,

my heart wept

my feet followed.

I will never dream that dream again -

the green mile was a mile too long,

the fantasy is gone, 

all that was left was

my antipathy to ruthless tyranny.

the horror took more than lives;

it stole visions and dreams,

but that's the way nightmares go.

my reverie is done.

My pen is raised -

my voice loud

my defiance unfeigned - 

never again will I be enslaved. 

While one flag speaks of dedicated oppression and segregation;

the other of grave disappointment

and hope, 

But I sleepwalk no more -

Tata Madiba walked alone;

but for peeves and perspectives,

flags are not my quest -

Freedom is.

(c) Jambiya

"The power of words".