When Two Zippers Went Down Poem by Sarah Mkhonza

When two zippers went down,
They did it for hope to go up,
For who made the rules we follow,
Of pulling things up to too close,
When we pulled them down to open them?
Who said zippers should stay in place?
But only the nuns at our school.
We were meant to know the rules,
And keep our insides shut in right there,
Only to peep out in private places,
Where only one stands alone.
This secrecy that is heaven bound,
I have not heard written about in heaven,
Where we all say we are going.

When two zippers are pulled down,
Only new things happen to lovers,
Who have been waiting for these moments,
Not heeding the rules of nuns,
For they know they wear no zippers,
And so have none to pull down.

The zippers went with a sound,
Like metals that ate into each other,
The opening and closing that went on,
For you know a zipper when you see it,
Pinching your hand for it is too close,
Saying don't touch or you will be hurt,
With a bite worse than a snake,
Is the only warning needed.

Then the devil walked in on them,
Up they went the zippers that went down,
Falling on the legs of pants pulled on,
The two work up a frenzied zipping,
Not concerned about the pinching,
Of stealing moments that are gone,
Only to be discovered in acts with rules,
That were made long ago.

Rewrite the rules and make new zippers,
That close sideways and backwards,
For you will not follow a single rule,
And learn to make everything new,
Only don't burn if you do not know,
The rules of the game that we play,
For there is a fire in this thing.

This game that is played only in two,
Always ends only with one,
Standing at cross roads wishing and wanting,
Wishing the pulling and pushing that happens,
Had not landed them in the knowing,
That they hold against all people,
Who said there was love in this pulling down,
That had to be found in this known way.