Speaking For Daughters Of The Rainbow Poem by Sarah Mkhonza

Once I knew how difficult it was,
I was ashamed of my self,
I tried to change but it was too late.
The gears did not work like the day before,
The path was uphill now not downhill.

I sidetracked and looked back,
My path had taken another direction,
I wished for the past but it was gone.
I was happy to have tried and not run.

Once I knew how funny it had been,
I laughed at myself for what I did,
For I had waded into the ocean of love,
Thinking it would save me and make me,
Without a surfing board and bare footed,
I was sure to end up at the place of wonder,
For the path keeps winding as I wander.
It does not get more prepared to save me,
Instead it unmade me each day I tried,
I found a human being I did not know,
In each action I took in the cruel waters,
Where I landed with my beloved.
The jelly fish bit me,
The sting was just too bad.

Once I knew we were not meant to be,
I had a strange sorrow inside me,
I wanted to know why and self blamed
Until the small voice rescued me,
It asked me where I stood when I saw love,
I did answer 'at the shoreline for sure',
'And now where do you stand? '
'In the middle of the waves for sure'
'What must 'we' do now?
'Swim on and even surf sometimes? '

Then I knew I was not sure,
I did not want to talk anymore,
I wanted to do and undo the knots,
They were too tight now,
They had 'knotlets' too,
That did not see the big knot,
What was I going to do now that I knew,
The shoreline was far away?

To go forward was a trial,
To go backwards was inviting,
But the crowd at the shoreline,
Looked on with open eyes,
I was scared, yes I was scarred,
I still stand undecided.
Tossed this way and that,
By the big knots I tied alone,
For we were not meant to be.

Some days it felt like a chain,
Some days it felt like the end of a storm,
Some days I saw the rainbow in the sky,
Then I knew I was the daughter of the rainbow,
For one day would start again.
And I would see it in all its colors,
I just hope it will not be too late,
To jump when the wave comes,
And come out on the other side,
And pull my hand over my head with a sigh,
As I usually do after a storm.