Data Points

Will you welcome me home 

Or will you shut the door instead 

Begging me to leave 

Before I say a word

Will I walk your streets 

In the heat of what feels like 37 degrees 

Six hours a day 

10 kilometres on average 

Will you quench my thirst 

With a welcome 

All I have 

Is an academic requirement 

A heart for meaning 

Worn-out shoes 

Questions in my parched throat 

Sun-kissed skin 

Walking through 

And walking past 

Little landfills in every corner 

Little landfills in bodies of water 

Trails of refuse lining my runway 

On either side 

A fire is burning 

And I’m scoffed at for assuring confidentiality 

Tears in my eyes 

Perspiring wasted energy 

Will you quench my thirst

With understanding?

Wise 

They say I need to be wise 

They tell me I’m too drained 

To be either wise or presentable

Can the summer sun break our resolve? 

Even when I know that 

None of you are entitled to give me what I need

But I am pressured to perform 

They ask for 

Output over process

Tell me again 

What I already know 

Maybe I really do need to hear it again 

This knowledge that I won’t use

To change my ways 

Why does it hurt so much 

To hear them say 

Things that I already know 

Things that I’ve already thought through 

Is it because I don’t let it change anything for me? 

Showing up day after day 

With change in my purse 

Burning holes in currencies

Slipping through my fingers

Skipping meals 

Going around 

Speaking of the recommended intake 

The fruit of the garden 

Here in the city

Speaking of that which is good for us 

While not practising what I preach

Because I can’t spend all that money

Because what I’m doing now

Is not worth it 

A failed endeavour from the start 

Not contributing anything significant 

To the scientific community 

Not contributing anything significant

To the new creation reality 

Bring me down to my knees, Teacher

Till I’m crying at my folly

On the pavement 

Let me breathe You in 

Your Spirit 

The wind blowing across my face

Marvel at Your mercy 

In the heat of summer land 

Fill my heart with You

Quench my thirst 

With You 

(March-April, 2023)