THINGS CHANGE Poem by Mxolisi Nyezwa

for Malope



at least then, it won't be like this
it will be a totally new suffering
like when a baby sucks his thumb.

it will be a totally new experience
(for God and history has provided)
we won't have to blow our minds
about it.

it will be like a fresh song
from a sparkling songbird
it will be like that for us, as an old
woman sits neglected
on the chair of her memories
it will be fresher, more vital
for us… at least it won't be like death.

and like death we die
every moment of our lives
it will be a totally new suffering
it will be like a song sung free
from a careless heart…

(our failure will have its dignity.)