Margaret Alice (The Crystal Age / Pretoria - South Africa)

Homemade raisin bread, hot from the
oven, spread with real butter and
sweet to the taste, I promised you
I wouldn’t complain should symptoms
manifest after my tasting it

I barged into this day in full
force, then thought swords were
plunged into my neck; electricity
ran down my spine into my back,
the strangest aches and pains
beset me everywhere,

I hate all my colleagues today,
they are happy and free while I
can’t see – I’m squinting between
swollen eyelids and nothing makes
sense – the raisin bread swelled
every nerve in my head

Making balloons in my ears, making
me mad - but like Pieter Pieterse
said, as soon as we feel better
again, we jump up and shout:
Man that was fun, when shall
we eat that again?

Problem is, I'm a working
girl, supposed to produce
well-written work, yet the
only thing I can do is hang
onto my desk, hoping the
earth will stop spinning
soon...


2. The Problem With Physical Pain

The problem with
physical pain is
it’s only painful
while it lasts

The moment it’s
past I’m as happy
as a lark, no
scar remains…