My Diary July 2014 Onwards

ohm

Her nimble fingers now
knotted like hard wood
rhythmically stitching
patiently
day after day
 million
stitches
a million more
she was sixteen
alluring
when she copied
the embroidery pattern
and now
more than
half a century later
the have a place
of pride
in the homes of
her children
and of her grand children
"ouma se lappies"
the pattern
never changed
the design ageless
she raised
ten children
and a half dozen more
some orphaned
some grandchildren
stitch by stitch
never tiring
in her labour of love

she supplemented her
meagre income
had no option
after her husbands
passing
and now I stare
at this "lappie"
inspect the intricate
and delicate
stitching
the pattern
childlike
that is what she
was
when she got married
to a man
many years
her senior
I salute
you Meraai
for your courage
your wisdom
and perseverance
for making
the world
a better place
peace and love be with you
mu brothers and sisters
forever
amen
doulos


 DNA

Who am I?
where do I come from?
Am I my brothers keeper?
there are so many theories
so much research
and still
no  definitive answers
my daughter celebrated
her roots by
supporting Germany
in the World cup
Is she German?
Not quite
our family's ancestry
came to Africa
more than 300 years ago
from Baver in Germany
does that make her German?
I am a "Boer"
my wife a "Bushie"
if we use common
SA vernacular
how we define ourselves
is up to us and us alone
Palestine and Israel
are fighting again
and yet
they are practically
related through
 their ancestry

and this is the way
they describe their God
I do not know
Arabic or Hebrew
I am not qualified
to say
it is right or wrong
It just seems to me
they have defined themselves
in different ways
and chose
different names
for the same God
so what are they?
Family?
sworn enemies?
or just human?
I own only
one Life
and will concern
me with
what I own
I am unique
my daughter is unique
every Jew and Arab
are unique
it is when
we identify
ourselves
as part
of the collective
that things comes apart
then our DNA
becomes unravelled
so in SA today
we are diverse
a rainbow nation
united under a flag
an Anthem etc.
I can only
influence life
by being unique
being myself
and allowing
every other
human being
the same
courtesy
even if
other beings
share DNA
with me
I remain unique
that and only that
is my birth right
just saying
Peace and Love be with you
my unique brothers and sisters
forever
Amen
doulos