I can still remember
When you came into my life
You were the smallest little flicker
A speck in the darkest light.
from the age of a toddler
you took my hand in your hold
Your touch
placed stars in my eyes
Grew vines on my ribs
and tied me to your soul.
I thought we’d grow old together
That you’d see me through the years
I miss the sweet nothings you whispered
Now all I see are tears.
But you were an imagination
That’s what they’d said to me
So they made me let you go
But I can still feel you
Haunting me.
Dear Innocence,
May I ask you
what did you see in me?
Did you see that I was lonely?
Did you hear my silent plea?
I let you caress my mind
and on every part of my skin
Left marks in form of tulips
that brought out the happiness
that lied deep within me.
We shared our deepest secrets
sat on the garden swing
you protected me from every fear
but could not stop me from growing.
And then came adolescence
a restless winter breeze
that shattered the skies with toxic clouds
brought me bowing at its feet.
They’re gladiators held me captive
Removed your grasp and hold on me
This feeling felt so foreign
I’d never felt so free.
Secretly i loved it
The fresh air and independency
But those tulips that you’d planted
were slowly withering.
I’ve left kisses on the tarred streets
Let colours of roses cascade on me
dug craters on the surface of my skin
To awake up the feeling within me.
Im covered in black roses
my ribs are tied with chains
I’ve become a slave to adolescence
I’ll never be the same
Dear Innocence, can you forgive me
I ignored the nostalgic anthems you used to sing
I’m sorry that I left you
to die on that garden swing.
When you came into my life
You were the smallest little flicker
A speck in the darkest light.
from the age of a toddler
you took my hand in your hold
Your touch
placed stars in my eyes
Grew vines on my ribs
and tied me to your soul.
I thought we’d grow old together
That you’d see me through the years
I miss the sweet nothings you whispered
Now all I see are tears.
But you were an imagination
That’s what they’d said to me
So they made me let you go
But I can still feel you
Haunting me.
Dear Innocence,
May I ask you
what did you see in me?
Did you see that I was lonely?
Did you hear my silent plea?
I let you caress my mind
and on every part of my skin
Left marks in form of tulips
that brought out the happiness
that lied deep within me.
We shared our deepest secrets
sat on the garden swing
you protected me from every fear
but could not stop me from growing.
And then came adolescence
a restless winter breeze
that shattered the skies with toxic clouds
brought me bowing at its feet.
They’re gladiators held me captive
Removed your grasp and hold on me
This feeling felt so foreign
I’d never felt so free.
Secretly i loved it
The fresh air and independency
But those tulips that you’d planted
were slowly withering.
I’ve left kisses on the tarred streets
Let colours of roses cascade on me
dug craters on the surface of my skin
To awake up the feeling within me.
Im covered in black roses
my ribs are tied with chains
I’ve become a slave to adolescence
I’ll never be the same
Dear Innocence, can you forgive me
I ignored the nostalgic anthems you used to sing
I’m sorry that I left you
to die on that garden swing.
© Thandeka Nkomo ™ 2018