Updated: Jan 29
The Caledon Baths Hotel, where the author was born in November 1939
Emerging in Caledon Baths Hotel—the verge
Of reality, the month, November nineteen
Thirty-nine, for seventy-two days, I learned,
My newfound country’d been at war with Germany.*
“Not very pretty at first,” lying in my crib,
I harkened to the grown-ups talking of the news
Reports breathlessly broadcast daily by the SABC,
About the rage of spite and Poland’s agony.
In the fire that the Panzers and the Stukas spat,
What would become of me? Familiar thus, I made
Acquaintance with the demons who pursue me yet,
Since that first midnight they set shop up here to stay.
“How,” you’ll scoff for sure, “could you understand their talk?”
I guess I must explain and spell it out—
Damned if I’ll defer to stale professional doubt!
Although they mostly lose it after just a month
Or two, new babies can, see, “do” telepathy.
You learn it swimming in the amniotic sea.
As you might well suppose, this has a huge impact
On consciousness—and that “hard problem” mystery.
Gotcha, scientists! You thought you knew it all!
But I can conjure many figments that concur.
Those recollections now, though, growing dim,
I fear I’m near to ready for the compost bin!
* Britain, France, India, Australia, and New Zealand declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. South Africa followed suit on September 6, beating Canada to it by four days. SABC = South African Broadcasting Corporation, on the air since 1936.
In the arms of my first true love, Leni. Amor vincit omnia!
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
