Unconscious Living

We bury the dead
With respect

We go through life
With smatterings of regret

We expect to prosper
With hard toil

We yearn for a life
Without much turmoil

We celebrate survival
With victory

We fight to banish pain
With raw willpower

We sometimes forget to just be
Without expectations free

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-01-30.

Miskien

Miskien 
Moet ons dit nog altyd sê
Apartheid 
Se moer

Miskien 
Moet ons dink
Hulle wat verkrag as wapen in ons passiewe harte gelos het
Se moer

Miskien
Moet ons weet
Daar is 'n toekoms
Gevul met die pyne van die verlede

Miskien
Moet ons nie vra
Wie of wat wasy sy nie?
Maar wie of wat het die diere groot gemaak wat haar kom wegneem het

Miskien
Moet ons
Seker maak
Ons kinders is veilig en toon respek vir my en jou, ons en hulle

Miskien
Is dit
Nou die tyd
Vir kwaad wees en om die waarheid van onderdrukking oop te krap

Miskien
Kan ons net
Stil sit en stil wees in die oomblik
Elke dag het 'n nuwe antwoord en elke siel het 'n rol om te speel

Miskien
Wonder ons te veel
Hoop ons vir die onverganglike
Wag ons tevergeefs vir mense om meer mens as dier te wees

Deur Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, Vir Lilian, in antwoord op ons e-pos gesprek “Destyds het Adam Small aan my gesê Lilian Apartheid se moer. Ek het verstaan wat hy in daai sin as n filisoof wil sê”. 2013-02-013.

Sad Realities

Fallen Hero

A victim
Of his own dialogue

An actor
In his own tragedy

A robber 
Of his own treasure chest

A loser
In his unique reality

A sad boy
In a man’s body


By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-02-19. Watching the headlines from the sidelines far away…

Fallen Beauty

A victim


Of her own trust


A final bow


On her stage of life


A raid 


Of her life’s potential


A loser


From the spoils of her future treasure chest


A sad family


Coping with a painful tragedy


By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-02-19…. Reading the headlines and sharing their pain.

Suffering with the Unexplained

Very few
Knew
Where Bredasdorp is
This place 
Where the platteland poverty
Forces choices
Robbing children of their innocence
Breadwinners 
Suffering
Struggles limitless
Pain
A circle endless

Very few
Understood
Who Anene Booysen was
This person
Whose tragic life story is now on national TV
Lost voices
Raising alarm bells conscious
Innocent victims
Suffering
Struggles limitless
Pain
In circles endless

Very few
Comprehend
We all pick up the pieces
Our nation
Trapped in turmoil
Lost souls
New curfews forced
Innocents
Suffering
Struggles continuous
Pain
In circles endless

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-02-11. In the memory of a young woman whose bravery touched me. Her battle with life ended in a war with known assailants – their dysfunction makes us question our own consciousness. My heart goes out to the community.

Feeling Good

Today
I want to write
You are 
Loved
In the sky
So that everyone can see
Our lives 
Are interconnected
Free

Today
I want to sing
We are
Free
In the world
So that I can hear
Our lives
Are interrelated
Naturally

Today
I want to smile
I am
Happy
Firmly grounded
For you to mimic me
Our lives
Are stratified
Organically

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-02-20.

We grew Up

We drifted apart

Like we expected

Our student days

Paved a way to happy futures

In the deep dark days when there was no way out

Our liberation came as a victory

Sometimes

I still think

Life is that mystery

We chased in watching the stars

Sharing long walks

Living to the next time

We could intersect

Sharing the love of our native mountain paths

We stayed connected

Like we expected

Our student days

Paved a way to happy tomorrows

In the light, carefree easy days when we had all the way out

Our graduation came as a victory

Occasionally

I still yearn

To capture our youth’s innocence

Laughing and easy silliness

Living to the next time

We can share

Burying our collectively growing sorrows

We keep close

Like we expected

Our youth slipping away

Paved a way to glow in love

The future shorter than the history passing by

Our lives marked by joy and symmetry

Sporadically

I still reminisce

Holding on to the good things that we could never miss

Raising the next generation spirited

Gradually we will all follow the same path

Living every moment to the last

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, in Remembrance for Gustav Uj Jephtha, 2013-02-04.

Curiosity

I want to ask

Every old oak

I pass along the road

To tell me the stories

About those who sheltered in their shade

Were they crying in pain

Laughing in high spirits

Lost along the way

Filled with unexpressed shame

Never will I get answers

The tree can only tell its tales

When the roots are separated from the main

I want to whisper

To every passing wave

Sweeping the sandy beaches in every tide

To tell me the stories

About who played in its surf

What organism claimed its bottom as its turf

Soaking up the summer heat

Skipping out a winter beat

Every drop salty sweet

Hiding life in unusual ways

Never will I get answers

The ocean can only have a voice

When I am ready to step beyond the dry ways

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-01-27

I always cried and you always went

I always cried and you always went

Take me with you

I cry

Don’t leave me here

Where I might die

The fact that you will be back

Was after all

Not a lie

Stay with me

I cry

I don’t want to stay here

Where will I lie

The fact that you came back

Was after all

Part of the trial

Stop me from going

I cry

I don’t want to leave you hopelessly behind

When I die

The fact we have to face

Is after all

Included in this deal called life

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-01-27.