Sometimes we talk without Speaking

Our everyday conversations

Seems to hover on the surface of reality

Finding deeper meaning

Feels like chasing a fallacy

Occasionally spontaneous laughter

Erupts

In split seconds

We experience a welcome relief

Discovering

Joy

However brief

Our occasional heart-to-hearts

Dig deep into the minds’ eye

Finding deeper meaning

Feels like chasing neutrality

Occasionally spontaneous tears

Erupts

In split seconds

We experience welcome relief

Discovering

Joy

Continuously succinct

Our rare sojourns

Recall innocence simplistic

Finding deeper meaning

Feels like chasing history

Occasionally spontaneous dreaming

Erupts

In split seconds

We experience welcome relief

Discovering

Joy

Endless meaning

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2013-04-02.

Embraced

With every breath

I celebrate life

Bitter winter cold

Sweet spring

Easily sold

Barefoot

As of old

Memories

Time treasures

Pain

Buried losses

We all learn

To bear our crosses

With every dream

I celebrate life

Summer’s samba sweet

Autumn’s darkness

Expected sentimentally

Bare souled

As of old

Celebrations

Time treasures

Suffering

Buried fatalities

We all learn

To embrace reality

With every moment

I embrace living

Hearts aging

Through every pumping beat

Open-minded

As of old

Recollections

Time treasures

Distress

Gradually depressed

We all learn

To suppress anxiety

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2012-04-01.

Restless

It has been almost one month since I posted anything in this space. The process of creating is ongoing, but the discipline of putting something up seems to come and go. In the back of my mind there are these 'voices' uttering little things like... "Why do you put yourself under such pressure to try and write each day?" or "Your writing makes me sad" or "When do you finish the book?"

All of these comments matter, but this week I had the chance to see and and listen to one of our continents' legends of the pen... in his words... "I am not a man for these gadgets" in reference to tablets and e-books... so it made me wonder how does he write? This man who recalls learning to read and write "on a black slate with white chalk" Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. I heard the sadness in his voice when he responded to the passing of Chinua Achebe on Friday 22 March 2013.

He talked about his life as a writer, his works, the essence and need to preserve our native tongues and more so... I once again understood the importance of continuing to reaffirm our relationships with our ancestors. The craft of telling stories and the sacrifices we make when fighting for liberation and then to continue our battles to enjoy our freedoms.

I will continue to strive and be good in my craft. Understanding that my voice will be sad, happy, elated, scared, lost, wondering and most of all nurturing love.


I was lucky to have the front row seat at a seminar in Uppsala with Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and Binyavanga Wainaina on Friday March 22, 2013 at 3 p.m.


24 March 2013.

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.