Poem: Incidental Love
It surprises people to know that I was quite the introvert at school. I preferred, and still prefer, my own company, although I taught myself early on to fake it till you make it. I faked it quite well – too well in fact, and was often chosen for speech contests and other public stages.
Writing is where I have always found my voice. I could sit for hours on end, creating poems, playing with words and ideas. A single utterance on a television programme would inspire an epic poem the next day. I wrote when I was happy; I wrote when I was sad. Writing surfed me through my torrential teenage years and, post-matric, I emerged a butterfly – less introvert, less awkward and much more confident.
I am fortunate to have kept my notebooks which I used in high school. In it, I have a selection of teenage poetry – some happy, some sad and some silly.
Here’s a happily silly one entitled Incidental Love (An innocent portrayal of love) which was written in 2000 (Y2K, my matric year). Of course, I have changed over the years. I have matured enough to become critical of the underlying message this poem gives, however, it is the innocence that attracted me to it once again. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Incidental Love - An innocent portrayal of Love by Waheeda Joosab (2000) HE WAS... A young man walked into a shop, one day, Asked for a soft drink. The shopkeeper frowned, Looked him up and down And said, "Hey man. What do ya think?" This young man, of few words, you see Said, "A soft drink, please. Didn't ya hear me?" As he waited, he heard them ask, "Think he's alone?" and "Just you, I see." Our young man, of few words, you see Said, "Oh, yes. Of course there's a She." From that moment on, our young man Realised he needed more. He needed what these other men had; Get it? He needed a Her. SHE WAS... A young lady walked into a salon, one day, Explained she needed a trim. The stylist frowned, looked her up and down And said, "Hey, girl. Why so grim?" This young lady, of few words, you see Said, "A trim, please. Didn't ya hear me?" On the chair, people began to stare And at last she was asked: "A new look for ya man?" and "For a husband, it's a must!" Our young lady, of few words, you see Said, "Oh, yes. Of course there's a He." From that moment on, our young lady Realised that she needed something. She needed what these other women had; Get it? She needed a Him. HE IS... After his drink, he was offered a walk So down the road they went. His buddy asked to see 'da girl' So on a search he led. His mother once said, 'She that is fair has well-groomed hair' So off to the salon, again he lied. At the window he pointed to a girl Who was getting her hair blow-dried. Our young friend, of few words, you see Said, "She's not done yet. Later, maybe?" SHE IS... After her cut, she was offered a walk So off to the mall they went. Her friend asked to see 'da guy' So on a search he led. Her mother once said, 'A man well dressed is a man unstressed' So off to Men's Wear they did go. At the window, she pointed out a man Who was trying on a tuxedo. Our young friend, of few words, you see Said, "He's not done yet. Later, maybe?" THEY ARE... His friend coincidentally recognised hers So they were appropriately coupled. He looked into her eyes, swept her away And sheepishly said, "Yeah, we're okay!" Our young couple, of few words, you see Soon got married... finally!
Have you kept your teenage diaries over the years, or did you throw them out at the first opportunity? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below or send me a message and we’ll engage.
Stay well, inside and out
Waheeda, a.k.a Waydi
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