Superficial Differences…* 7.05.2008 Poem by Margaret Alice

My Heart Expand

I wish I could describe
the feeling I have
when General de la Rey
sung by Bok van Blerk
is played

I feel my heart expand –
wish it was my normal
everyday experience; when
I feel elated, I could
then go even higher

When Bok and the cast
climb into de la Rey’s place,
recreating war scenes, feelings
of suffering for a just cause -
for the freedom of my nation

For self-governance and mother-
tongue - my heart is fit to burst –
afterwards I cry again about
unnecessary suffering
of women and children
in concentration camps…

...And then - watching Dr No
first James Bond movie, feeling
appreciative of Fleming’s genius –
the same nation who fought my own,
providing the best ever
movie escapism

But what can we learn?
All divisions amongst people
are superficial, we are one,
like Wayne Dyer says, although
we cannot feel it, even when
reading in “bonne foi”

Languages create division
as superficial as all the
other divisions distinguishing us;
BUT – in a novel, destruction of
differences is equated with
non-existence…

* Tog is dit so lekker om in Afrikaans met ons
stywenek-medenaaste die draak te steek!