poems
SLAYING THE DRAGON - By Leigh Vivier

Why are these dark times? I believe that individualism instead of companionship has switched off the light on our responsibilities to ourselves, our families, colleagues, lovers, husbands, wives and friends.

'I' has become more important than 'We' - and creates a society that is predominantly egotistical and self - serving. How do we then, as individuals, survive horrendous acts like rape, armed robbery and hijacking which infringes upon our very basic need for security?

We need to find and ignite the light our old souls once radiated. It's time to make use of individualism for the good of the community. You may wonder how? Admittedly there is no one answer that will fit all.

Where is the outrage at the exploitative nature of advertisements and the media? In the name of entertainment we have become slaves to the idea that a car goes faster with a naked girl on top; that by being reduced to a peeping tom qualifies as entertainment and that any argument can be settled with a semi-automatic rifle. The paradoxical behavior of a society which is appalled by acts of violence perpetrated against it, whilst feeding off a degenerate media, is laughable. I believe that the greatest leap towards the victory line of a perfectly healthy community lies not in elaborate actions but in the simple action of turning the television off.

Such media undermines women with integrity, class and emotional intellect. It takes for granted that this is how all women like to 'sell' themselves. Whilst men become its willing slave, selling their soul for a fast car and trading their wives for 'newer models', portraying the stereotypical "I'm a success!"
I say sorry buddy you're not! You're simply a victim of media rape!
How should society then assert itself? Maybe the answer lies in realising our potential and seeing that it doesn't lie in the size of our wallets but in the size of our .........yip, hearts! But then the "heart" seems to have been replaced by the sad vestiges of women who roll themselves into the comfortable high of a hundred rand bill, preferring the warmth of fur to the freedom of honesty.
For me the answer lays in seeking the silence in which I hear the beating of my own heart.

I cannot presume to know how you may feel; act and dream, but I can share my hopes, dreams, aspirations and ultimate choice.
I have a dream that, in this life time, we will find the innate fire of our souls . Paying homage to our eternal life-giving force, without which the sun would seize to shine and the stars to other heavens recline.
I have a dream, that by reaching for our peaceful 'other' we will heal all our past wounds - losing our parents, the adoption of loveless ways , the rape of innocence , hundreds of heart breaks, spiritual desertification, suicidal destitution and the effects of the murderous society we live in.

I stand before you today, knowing that by choosing to follow my destiny , the flame of acceptance and forgiveness kissed me on my cheek and has given me a peace that will shine forever !

Life, with all its pains and varied challenges whispers in my ear, tugs at my sleeve and begs me to let go of all the malicious acts of my past. I journey deep into the warm fields of purple, fertile trust lifting to the cool breeze of my silent intent , knowing that I have only now started my quest into this one resilient soul.

Good luck to us all on this breathtakingly beautiful journey into the one where" life's only constant is change"