Classic Calendar

Calendar at Bulawayo Club © Ernest Mackina (2013)

On a cold Thursday, comforted by the sharp rays of the midday sun, I walked on the gloomy streets and breathed the dry air which was decorated by dusty particles, the kind that would easily choke any sense of hope. 

I was kept company by my companion pessimism whose character was strengthened by previous seasons of sombre tragedies and memories of melancholic moments.

Maybe, just maybe - hope lies in the mind, maybe, the right thought would saturate surroundings into an atmosphere of optimism, which one day would in condenses into pregnant clouds of appreciations, and precipitate torrents of trust, maybe... just maybe, it may start with this thought:

"These are the good times in our lives

So throw on a smile, it will be alright"

I would like to know how this classic calendar has stood through time, I asked how it braved generational cases of sadness, and as I looked at it's vintage wisdom, it replied:

"Time heals all wounds"

Dear Paranoia...

Paranoia is that substance that fuels my existence,

It is the fibre that has built my survival;

A tamed curiosity passed down from lineages and dynasties to my present self;

A descendant of human kind - The Neanderthal

Striking resemblance to the Sapien in the modern age

Dampened curiosity with customized sanity

Experiences experienced  to usher in a new experience,

Fostering a timid character;

Shy of risk and blossoming in calculation...

Thriving in anticipating possibilities,

Sharp of probabilities.

Where art thou paranoia?

You  reside in my heart,

In the apartment next to my fears.

You engineer my thoughts and lubricate them with truth,

You initiate my actions and punctuate them with caution.

You lace my interactions with colleagues with spices of discipline,

You ground my feet when I think of throwing caution to the wind.

Dear paranoia:

I thought I’d let you know –

Because of you, I think twice before the first kiss.

Because of you paranoia –

I seat in the center and strap my seat belt in case I accidentally fall in love.

Because of you paranoia

I walk with a locket on my necklace so maybe time will hang around me.

Because of you paranoia –

I wear two wrist watches

So maybe I can have time on my side.

So today paranoia I thank you

Why? You may ask

Simply put:

Thanks to you paranoia,

I strike the panic button when I do not walk in a straight line.

Thanks to you paranoia,

The first detail I capture when I get into a room

Is not her radiant smile;

But the location of the fire extinguisher

Because of you paranoia,

I imagine how many steps it would take for me to reach the emergency exit

Its thanks to you… 

My dear heart’s inhabitant

That I looked four times to the side before I crossed the street

To seat down and write this letter to you...