I thought
I would get sick drinking milk.
I never thought
I would eat hake and like it.
I thought
I would never see birds again
after my blue budgie died.
I never dreamed I’d attend weddings
and still be single.
I thought
I would have a degree by now.
Instead I write poems.
Love poems, sad poems.
Poems for peace
and freedom.
Poems about me,
for other people.
Chestlyn Draghoender is a writer and poet from Ravensmead in Cape Town. His writing appears in Poetry Potion #10 and #11. He loves his local library and good music.