He Never Walked Away...

He could have walked away,

For there were many a reason to do so;

But he never did;

He was there through the highs and lows.

I gave him many a reason

To walk away for good;

And yet he stayed beside me

While I was in his neighbourhood.

There were panic attacks, crying,

Semi madness, paranoia;

All the usual consequences of

Being assaulted a year earlier.

There were so many times

I expected him to be gone;

I warned him in fact that -

I’m not worthy – my people are gone!

There is no need to put up with me,

Its not good for your health;

I’m used to people disappearing,

I’ll deal with things myself.

For I am being punished,

It’s how its meant to be;

At least for those of us assaulted

....in the middle of the sea.

But of course he didnt understand,

He’s from a different culture;

He wasn’t afraid to hold my hand

And protect me from the torture.

He has probably never met anyone

As mad and unstable as me;

Coming to stay in Soweto

And feeling so totally free.

He saw my love of Soweto,

For the children, the people, and more;

He spent so much time exploring his home with me –

He’d learnt which combi to get door to door!

When I had to get to clinics,

Not just one, two, three, or four (!)

He spent two days right there with me

As we waited hours to reach the door.

He didnt have to do that,

He has work to do back home;

Yet even when I shouted at him –

He never left me alone.

Of course I apologised later,

Tried to help him understand;

That my brain does its own thing,

Yet he was still there to hold my hand.

He never once walked away,

And thats when it occurred to me;

What a complete cultural contrast

....to our “people of the sea”...

My “family” are now Sowetans,

Although i’ve known that for a while;

When the clinics registered me as an “African”

All I did was smile.

Of all the times I thought i’d given

A reason for him to abandon me,

There was one in particular –

Where he’d be fully justified to flee.

To protect yourself i’d understand,

You may need to walk away;

And yet he didnt – he put himself at risk

...to protect me, I have to say....

It’s not an easy place to live,

He could have walked away;

I’m forever grateful for his bravery

And that he didnt walk away.

For a place where for so long,

Segregation was the norm,

It has come such a very long way –

Since the day I was born.

My culture, mixed as it is

Has not suffered in this way;

Instead it shuns and alienates people

....if they “dont obey”....

Well done South Africa,

Though the problems you face are not gone;

You could teach a lot to “my people”..

..a culture that needs to be re- born.

*Written recently on my return from South Africa, and with great gratitude to this person and many many others whom I spent much time with. It was actually written on 18th May - Mandela Day; I think I made it clear in the poem - but irrespective of its high crime rate, of a violent nature, I have a deep love and respect for this country which could clearly teach ours a few lessons from a cultural perspective.

I was free. People learned what happened to me, I wasnt shunned for speaking; in fact people are actively encouraged to speak out in this land. Especially now....now that they have the freedom to do so. I am so humbled by these beautiful souls.... nobody walked away from me. How refreshing, for someone who after an assault - lost what felt like their entire life. We lose ourselves, are unwelcome by our "homes", we lose our families, friends....they all walk away and never speak again. Exacerbating the shame we already feel. Those cousins, you played with when you were young. Your Aunts whose houses you frequented regularly and enjoyed spending time with, so so many people....that it feels like your entire population has "walked away".

I still do not know how to deal with the pain. But I am simply right now, very grateful to the people of South Africa, in particular of Soweto. Where I have a different "family"......and where nobody....walked away.

Thank you Soweto.....thank you Tsietsi.