Carols In The Candlelight (Ulco 2010) Poem by Mpho Petrus Manwedi

The tone was set
To the artistic beauty of the candle lit splashpool
With the firefly and Chinese lighting in the backdrop
The night was accommodating
And the stars were jealously peeping down on the stage below
The music was finely tuned and in sync with the heart warming scene
Whilst the orator was in enthusiasm with the event
And this was in embracing the spirit of Christmas.

But alas! The mood did not capture the intend
A body could feel the restless flight of the spirit of antipathy
Hovering above the applauding groups
The cheerful clapping belying the aversive vibe in the milieu.
And you could hear the low whispers heavy with resentment
And the underlying question
Why did the messenger angels proclaim the Christmas message
Written on a whiteboard with a white pen?
Well that is for you to think about.

By Mpho Petrus Manwedi