Taken For A Ride Poem by Niki Nicholas Nkuna

Like a child I did not have pre-knowledge of anything except the milestones I have seen, touched and passed
I would be told not to dare cross certain boundaries because I will lose my abilities to play with my toys and friends
When in fact nothing will happen to me if I cross the bridge
Except that I will see the golden jewels
That will astound or horrify my puerile pious mind
Nobody knows exactly what I would have become had I been let through the adult gate
Except surmising about what life would have been had Adam and Eve not meddled with the forbidden fruit

I would be forbidden to do certain things at certain times
Because tomorrow I may not have energy nor the mind to strive beyond the day
Or because at the time my premature mind could be overwhelmed by the shenanigans of beauty and the beast
Or because should I be let to poke my nose freely I would spite my face

Storm, rain and cold would come and I would be protected to the extent of losing my right to experience real nature
I would be told I do not have the wherewithal to withstand it
Let alone showing my disgusting face
My toys will break through the might of my premature mind

I would be told the fix needs a big mind
What I say should be done is worthless
I must just shut up, pay and play because I can only play not ply
Children of the world, colourful like the rainbow
Toys would stream to the colourful tributaries by the spike of the price
Racism if not by the spite of the law

I would wish to fly an aeroplane with a lame resolve and hope circumstances would come to my favour
The only distance I would traverse would be short via the permitted route with little silver pebbles to pick
I would be told I’m not suite for anything beyond the threshold to status symbol
I would be told I’m too short to reach the golden globe
Therefore I must shift aside I don’t even belong on the anointed stand

N Nkuna,16 January 2014