The Whole Wide World [rev.] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

While Spanish Harlem plays I know everything is
fine - like Spiritualists say; I feel in control washing
and cleaning in the kitchen holding life in my hands,
conviction's bright in sun dancing on net curtains,
happiness is the process of polishing all surfaces,
and packing away extra cutlery

Anxiety threatened reading Sunday's news until
I remembered nothing's ever gone wrong - from
isolation with threatening ideals of sad and lonely
excellence; we now mix the dreams of all peoples,
it is the legacy of our beloved Madiba - Mandela,
opening an isolated group, the only white tribe

Of Africa - subdued by past colonial regimes - to
the rest of the world, teaching culture is nought,
it's the heart and mind that counts; now we share
gems inherited from fiercely fighting forefathers
who lost their independence in uprisings against
the Cape-Dutch & Britain in 2 decimating wars,

In the understanding we cherish as we send our
children to all nations; after two hundred years
of isolation leaving us without a fatherland - we
represent Africa - and we share our treasure of
wisdom with the whole wide world…

[21 September 2014]