person of the week goes to Grace

she takes life in big strides... huge amount of determination and courage.
But it is a grace that is solid yet feminine.
She is a mother, grandmother, earth-mother, and naturally also a nurse and a black proud vehicle of love.


She is grateful for her tea and the fact that her "son" (not biological, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the outside) did not injure anyone in the Friday-afternoon N2 car accident.

The car is written off and Grace will be severely inconvenienced (taking her ageing mother to the clinic by taxi now, doing groceries for 6, etc)

If I see how she lives and takes care of things... I am ashamed at my lack of grace and my supreme lack of gratitude...

Poem for Grace
Mother, I trawled the internet for a suitable poem
but none came
when I called; you always came
to me
and wrapped me around you.
Hardworking grace
Grace in action
Grace in motion
beautiful example
of simple
joys
and arms
opened
wide.

and I dedicate this poem by Gordon Neumann to her.

Survival of the Humble

So human race,
do you seek survival
in all your ambiguous top-heavy ego-centric expectations,
addicted to solutions of the hypothetical,

or can you face your evil
enough to accept love that's unconditional
extending to the next miracle,

best be careful
of suicidal denial
in the form of any sort of relief
that can be final,

for life has more mystery to reveal
to those still pursuing the holy grail,
and what is to unravel
for those that fail at the crap-shooters' gamble
along the path of dark travail,

between the messiah and the martyr
everything is now at stake,
and everything is possible
for the brave, the grateful,
and the humble.

Gordon Neumann
10/4/2009