[Poet’s Note : this is a wry autobiographical memory written in traditional pirouette verse viz. 2 quintrains, line 5 & 6 repeat, the ballet toe turnaround. I wanted to write a narrative of a weird syncopated vignette, when I was knitting a pink mohair jersey at the time of my imprisonment. I reduced the narrative to a pirouette. When in prison, one of my interrogators was knitting the EXACT jersey in the exact colour & exact wool ! ie. everything in human life can be reduced to a pirouette, a turn-around dance. ]


knitting a pink jersey
mohair with cables fine
to process flying thoughts
political activist
south africa turmoiled

south africa turmoiled
security police
came with caspirs and cuffs
interrogation chamber
police knit jersey pink

         ~~~~~~~~~

If animals in the wild
must constantly be careful
then why should we
people around each other
ever feel secure?

L.C.

Adding blocks to the walls all around me
Standing in a growing tower
Continuing to fear as the drop grows more severe

You made a ladder to help me down
Each step was thought uncertain
Until you gave me your hand too

An ocean of tears turns into a river
Still turbulent but with direction
An emotional title wave takes me over

Quiet as a child

in his mother's arms, quite so --


even is my soul.

Sometimes, it feels like life
would be so much easier if I could just believe. Believe that it's all going to be alright.
Believe that it's worth it
to fight for what you want.
That it makes a difference if you stand up.
That there's a heaven,
and we know what it's like there.
Hell, if I could believe in myself.
But life can only rock your boat so many times before that little voice in your head whispers "what's the point?" The point is...security.
while it can be redundant,
there is so much uncertainty. Unpredictability. It's no wonder so many people
struggle with anxiety.
But if you believe,
at least you have something to hold on to.

Warm  hand reaching mine.
Yours strong, mine slight.
Tight grip
fades any threat.
Melts away all regret.
My strength can finally rest.
You have me.
False sense of security.
We know not what tomorrow brings,  
but in this moment there is peace.

My Starhub Cyber Protect
Has decided that the Starhub site
Isn't safe. I guess this effect
Was unintended (right??)
But then again, it must be
Doing a great job for people like me;
Unable to
Watch YouTube, do
A Buzzfeed
Quiz, satisfy the need
To scroll on Reddit.
Is it
Just me, or is
This
Just all too
Familiar? Surely you
Know what I mean...
"This site has been blocked" flashing on-screen.
It's just the irony here
That makes it bigger than it appears.