Living on the edge

The precipice is where I live

with excitement, fear

determination

indignation

my faithful  friends

and constant companions.

Have wandered away

From  the familiar road

Doing strange things

that nice middle- class girls  don’t

or, maybe won’t…?

Start  an organisation

to  work with  the forgotten

fuelled by passion,

driven by  conviction

disdaining  profit

and” proper” ambition.

Looking  at  the world

down  side-Up

is now  my chosen   cup.

I  mourn  and  fret

over the  very  same   news,

that   my  neighbours find

inane, or just  amusing.

I simply can’t  connect

with  their views

about   muslims,  slumdwellers,

dalits or transgenders.

I scream in jubilation

when  a court judgement

finally renders justice

to people on the margins,

I feel a  need to celebrate-

even if its ten years too late.

My  achievements are many

though probably  strange

here   are  some..

tell me, am I  deranged?

Inviting   poverty

Into an up- market  home

permanent insecurity

and  feeling  alone

a zero bank balance

reducing my  “needs”

these  anomalies

became my creed.

Refusing  to live

with a lying husband

I took lovers rarely,

but when I pleased

and left them –

at the first  sign of unease.

Adopted a child

born out of  “wedlock”

and became  her  Mum

as well as  her  Dad.

Said to myself

that  though its  hard

single parenting-

 is  not  too bad,

anything’s  better  than 

a meaningless marriage

and a sense of  deadlock.

Ahh,  its tiring

Exhilarating

Maddening

Painful

Beauteous

To live on the edge

Want to try it and see?

The trick is..

Never dwell on the abyss  beneath

Ignore the safe and beaten  path

It  will lead you “astray”

your dreams you  will  betray.

Look up with your entire being

Defy gravity

And let the precipice

Give you life’s meaning.

I think  I like it  here.