Nervous

 

The nerves are working,

Producing endorphins

The senses are heightened

Until they touch the sky’s ceiling

And bend back in again

Until nerve endings hang like jungle vines

Someone more experienced could swing from them and go far

How good they are at beating their chests

And picking ant holes clean

They know the jungle

And what to do when it rains

They have evolved to it

They have labored to become natural

Whereas I am still learning to walk hunched over

To stay calm when ticks are bitten from my fir

Bloodsuckers that they are

To climb the high trees without a tremble

Published by

Troydon

Troydon Wainwright is a philosopher and Reiki Master based in Cape Town. Born with mild cerebral palsy and dyslexia, Toydon learnt to write as a way to overcome the barriers his dyslexia placed in front of him. “I wrote my way out of dyslexia,” said Troydon, “or at least to the point where reading and writing aren’t a problem anymore.” During the day he works as an educational facilitator (someone who helps special needs students cope academically and become more independent). At night he dedicates his time to writing. He has won a Nova award for his short story, The Sangoma’s Storm, and been a feature poet at the Off the Wall poetry readings in Cape Town and at Cape Town Central Library. Three of his poems were also included in the anthology Africa’s Best New Poets. He has also been published in the South African Literary journal, New Contrast. One of his Facebook posts, in which he took a stand against racism, has gone viral (http://www.troydonwainwright.com/when-love-went-viral/).

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