Before Sunset

It is 16 (sixteen) years since I got my first poem published in Tribute magazine. I somehow felt like I outgrew writing, I had found other channels to express myself, preaching is one of them. But since 2012 Surprise Segaloe has been encouraging me to write and publish, he has already published his second collection. This year Thabang by starting his letter-poetry Facebook page which I contributed to (poem: in the shade) re-ignited that desire to publish in me. This came after I felt a deep urge that I need to publish soon before my parents are taken from our site, they are both in their 80's. Starting today I am working on this collection which is inevitably dedicated to them. They gave me life, they gave me hope, they gave me direction, they did all they could to make the best out of me. Some things I may never understand, some I may ask myself, but I am truly grateful they have been this type of parents to me. I grew up with my maternal grand parents and I cherish their memories very dearly. Each day when I got from primary school, I found my grandma waiting for me under the mulberry tree which became synonymous with our home in Seshego, zone 2. She was the first person I saw when I started to understand anything about my surroundings, since she left, life was never the same, it seemed like the glitter was taken out of life, it seemed like there was an eclipse on life. The day Mama told us she is no more, is the last time I remember Mpho in his right mind, being his energetic self, since then nothing was the same again. Papa had come to fetch the three of us, Pakie being the third from our schools, only to find that Koko left a vacuum that was never to be replaced. She never left us empty, we were told her last words were, "le botxe bana Modimo a be le bona" that is enough to keep us going. She believed in prayer, I was too young to understand some of the things about her, all I knew, she gave us all her time and love, what else can one ask for in this busy world. I could have dedicated precious book to her, or to Oupa, who left when I was seven years, but I learnt that the very decision that we be there was taken by my parents believing it is for our good. For every decision they took, for every effort they made, said and unsaid, I wish to honour both my parents, it is very humbling that God graced them with long life. Long life to see this published. I am very grateful.