shot glass
title
"... brevity is the soul of wit ..."
- William Shakespeare

Bio


I'm an amateur poet hailing from Johannesburg's West Rand. I have always had a deep appreciation and love for poetry and prose. I was fortunate in being published in a national magazine for Grade 12 learners in 1999. Life has always been my inspiration for writing. I can be reached at darain39@gmail.com


Ryno van der Merwe


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It wasn't the persistent din from many mouths gathered
Or the rustle of thousands of limbs brushing
That kept his head bowed
He knew that if he lifted his eyes right now
Untold pairs would be reflected back at him
Charged with hope, with love, with humanness

Instead he touched the crisp surface of the bread
Clutched in his hand, the small fish momentarily forgotten
Glinting wetly from their refuge in the baskets near his feet
He had been told he would save these people
From themselves, and that he would feed them
Today and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Surely it wasn't fear that kept his eyes glued to the ground
That dried the little bit of saliva in his mouth?

Still, it was a couple of moments before he could raise his head
To look at them