Little Joe, who had adored his ‘outgoing’ father Ira, had been withdrawn and sulky since the accident, venturing out of his room only at mealtimes. With the funeral behind them and his parents’ mutual friends having long since returned to their busy lives, Joe and his mother Mary were left pretty much on their own now.  […]

(I wonder, can anyone anywhere be considered an outsider given the implications of the election results for the world at large?) The ongoing protests and occasional riot against Donald Trump’s election are growing tiresome. Imagine for a moment the reaction had Clinton won and Trump’s supporters staged protests or, God forbid, riots. This election confirms the […]

My dear children, it is with some regret that I must announce that despite the growing phenomena of parents addressing letters of praise directly to their kids on Facebook, extolling, inter alia, their brains, their beauty and the munificence of their physical and mental attributes, I’ve reluctantly decided to stick with the somewhat dated practice […]

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers out there, young and old – may you always be an inspiration to your kids! If there’s anyone who for any reason doesn’t see or call their dad as often as they might, I pray that this little poem will serve as a gentle reminder that time isn’t always […]

A very happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there – how very special you are, not only to your own children but for the key role you play in building a nation of decent, upright, caring souls! How appropriate that today has been chosen as a National Day of Prayer for a Crime-Free […]

If you’re a believer in the Word You celebrate the risen Lord And every precious day He’s given to you And on this Easter Sunday morn Upon the wings of hope you’re borne And your heart cries out a joyful Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah   You think of all they put Him through That […]

With Father’s Day in South Africa this weekend (Sunday 15 June), Paul Christie remembers his father and his childhood in Germiston in this poem…inspired by Jeremy Taylor’s classic folk song. (For those who do – or don’t – remember the original, we’ve included the video below.) Ag Pleez Daddy (with apologies to Jeremy Taylor) Ag pleez daddy can […]

This is dedicated to all mothers, young and old – how very special you are! To the tune of “Let it Be” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney When I find myself in times of trouble My mother’s words come back to me Faith will find the answer, wait and see At times when friends don’t understand me Her […]

While we await the final voting results, and in the light of Julius Malema’s EFF party coming third in the South African Elections after gaining over 6 % of the total votes so far, here’s a poem: An ode to F! (musings on a possible South African pop opera…) To the tune of “Yesterday” by the Beatles. […]

On the eve of the 2014 South African Elections, Paul Christie has written the following poem for fellow South African voters… A South African Election (Read to the tune of “An English Country Garden”) How many promises do you see In a South African election? How many lies do they televise In a South African […]

To the tune of “How Great Thou Art” Dear Lord on High, I see the need and hunger That fill this land; on every face displayed I feel the pain, I see the fear and anger A people lost, their hopes and dreams betrayed Then cries my soul, My Saviour God to Thee How can […]

It’s high time someone in South Africa spoke up about something that we’ve all been too timid to raise for far too long, either out of politeness or a misguided sense of political correctness.  Let me be the first to speak out about this abomination and consequences be damned! To the tune of “Love Me […]

My dear Oscar, Your freedom of access to newspaper articles and the internet doubtless leaves you somewhat bemused by your precipitous fall from grace in the eyes of an erstwhile adoring public. The reasons for this may at first blush appear obvious, but I would venture to suggest that these are as multi-faceted and as […]