It Only Took a Moment

It only took a moment for everything to change

For the world to shed its skin and become something darker

Before everything had its place

Bad things happened

But nothing that couldn’t be mended

Or eventually forgotten

The world remained safe

And the bad things in it

Only ever happened to people far away

Then darkness came to my door

And entered without knocking

I begged it to go away

But it stayed without moving

Everything else had to rearrange around it

Now I weep for what was

For dreams that will stay dreams

And for the world that died

When the real world entered

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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