my fingers touch the lined surface of the page. you compel me to write.
beyond this plane of existence – hers, his, mine – a tiger spirit stirs.
in his previous life, he was a son, a brother, a friend, a scholar, a sportsman, a lover, and - let’s be honest - a party animal.
he crept into our lives and our hearts - slowly, subtly. he told stories - loudly, loveably. he stated opinions - boldly, earnestly. he shared knowledge - gently, suggestively. he gave advice - carefully, caringly. he worked - resolutely, tirelessly. he danced - freely, blissfully. he loved - inimitably, devotedly.
he erred. he learnt. he grew. he smiled. he felt. he travelled. he tackled. he drank. he ate nyemens. he cooked. he read. he shared. he listened. he held. he taught. he tried. he gave. he dreamed. he teased. he charmed. he joked. he encouraged. he came. he went. he lived - he truly lived.
scratch that. he truly lives.
dear tiger, you leapt out of our lives and dragged a trail of broken hearts behind your tail. i mourn the mshana you would have remained. the graduate you would have become. the best man you were to be. the husband and father you could have been. the long life we could have shared with you.
if i mourn your loss, why do i insist that you live? because i hear you say “big tings, big tings,” when i reach a milestone. because you walk with me, wherever i go. because your presence lingers in my heart, in my memories and within the depths of my soul. because your mother, father and brother, who share your DNA, continue to live. they remember and honour you. as we do, too.
you are alive, my dear, because your tigritude is indestructible. you are alive because although my senses can’t see, smell, touch, taste or hear you, i know you are an intake of breath away. your spirit accompanies and protects us in a way that can only be done on a higher plane.
you are alive because you exist, unbeknowingly, amidst our daily lives. you are a smile. you are a prayer. you are an act of kindness. you are laughter. you are love. in this way, i strive to sense you every day.
our tiger is gone, but he left a lengthy, lasting set of paw prints in our lives.
we love you, wakhile. we always will.
beyond this plane of existence – hers, his, mine – a tiger spirit stirs.
in his previous life, he was a son, a brother, a friend, a scholar, a sportsman, a lover, and - let’s be honest - a party animal.
he crept into our lives and our hearts - slowly, subtly. he told stories - loudly, loveably. he stated opinions - boldly, earnestly. he shared knowledge - gently, suggestively. he gave advice - carefully, caringly. he worked - resolutely, tirelessly. he danced - freely, blissfully. he loved - inimitably, devotedly.
he erred. he learnt. he grew. he smiled. he felt. he travelled. he tackled. he drank. he ate nyemens. he cooked. he read. he shared. he listened. he held. he taught. he tried. he gave. he dreamed. he teased. he charmed. he joked. he encouraged. he came. he went. he lived - he truly lived.
scratch that. he truly lives.
dear tiger, you leapt out of our lives and dragged a trail of broken hearts behind your tail. i mourn the mshana you would have remained. the graduate you would have become. the best man you were to be. the husband and father you could have been. the long life we could have shared with you.
if i mourn your loss, why do i insist that you live? because i hear you say “big tings, big tings,” when i reach a milestone. because you walk with me, wherever i go. because your presence lingers in my heart, in my memories and within the depths of my soul. because your mother, father and brother, who share your DNA, continue to live. they remember and honour you. as we do, too.
you are alive, my dear, because your tigritude is indestructible. you are alive because although my senses can’t see, smell, touch, taste or hear you, i know you are an intake of breath away. your spirit accompanies and protects us in a way that can only be done on a higher plane.
you are alive because you exist, unbeknowingly, amidst our daily lives. you are a smile. you are a prayer. you are an act of kindness. you are laughter. you are love. in this way, i strive to sense you every day.
our tiger is gone, but he left a lengthy, lasting set of paw prints in our lives.
we love you, wakhile. we always will.
