Loss & Gain
Most of my life, it could be defined,
Not in physical but in wider sense than wide,
Now you see it, now you don't.
I kind of remained blind.
An awful handicap,
I could not possibly hide.
That made me rely on others for a guide.
Standing at the edge of a street,
As I contemplated, not knowing what stood in front,
Or which direction I should head.
Hoping it all, I would get none of it wrong.
Whilst my handicap kept me in the dark,
I got to be frank.
This much I knew: that
I did not know
How many were eager to help,
And How many declined
And walked away,
Leaving me behind.
And amidst those who offered,
I did not have a clue,
Who was a good Samaritan,
And who had a cruel heart,
With intent my person to hurt.
One day as feared, I was led to urban wasteland.
And received a bump on the head.
Was it a metal or hard rock,
I could not tell, my neck that broke.
And with
that, I lost the ability to walk.
But nonetheless, the attack,
kicked in to shape and turn alive an organ
That was out of use and long gone.
The ,
A veil, a sort of thick pithy rind,
That had hitherto prevailed,
To keeping shrouded my mind,
Came off, and my inner sight,
For the first time was set alight.
Alas! I the old gullible,
Now began to see people
For what we really are -
Observe if you like, and at length scribble,
Words would be ineffable,
To describing us walking evils,
Our wickedness albeit at times for the naked eye invisible.
Copyright Haileselassie Girmay
08/10/2004