Have the Clocks gone forward? 

or Have the Clocks gone backward? 

or Do we just get this thing backwards, time after time? 

… is it 

Winter over there, and is it Summer over here 

Why does my skin burn, while my heart freezes over 

… is it too late to take my calls 

for these twin boys and this girl child 

my limited time shared, has torn me from them 

and them from me 

… is it to late to turn back the time 

for these handsome men and this beautiful woman 

to share the limited time I have left, their gift to me from them 

and to them from me 

… is it too late to turn back the pages

or do the venomous that be the emotional charge

in charge of my family policy and faithless politicians 

have spat like the spitting cobra 

to poison the time I have left 

in the changing of my family, with the fatherless fruit of my loins 

… is it 

the wrinkling of winter, and the sunspots of the seasons in the sun

the withering of old age, the maturation of youthful dreams undone 

But I believe I cannot swallow another 

Southbound lie 

But I will be winged and join the Swallows 

as Northbound they do fly 

My sensitive daughter, I sensed our time would be at its peak 

when she was no longer a girl child 

when she explored beyond the home fires, 

when she adored the strong, as well as the meek 

My sons, second and third born, seconds from each other 

when others have stopped their comparisons 

when others have paused the cause of their competitive natures, 

when others and mothers stop words but encourage 

each individual with their own voice to speak 

that will be our time to warm our hands and hearts near the fire 

that will be our time to warm the blood, and slow the breath, 

as together with the summer sun we rise to arrive at this mountains peak… 

by Geoffrey Wright 

© 11 December 2024

Glenora Redemption, Cape Town, South Africa