The Flower That Survived 19 Years of Drought

Black Diamond's Cry

Black Diamond's Cry

Hope in something is like a burning flame that never dies, even when the time is frosty and cold. While faith in something you put your belief in is like a fountain of fresh water which at no time stops flowing. The youths of today are a ray of hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope and faith in them, the continuity of the future cannot be guaranteed. They are the engine that propels the world," I whispered inside my head standing at the front of a supermarket as I waited for a taxi.  

Suddenly, I felt something hauling my shirt. I looked down and saw a poor boy in tattered clothes. He wore a cut, blue jeans pants and a torn white T-shirt. He roamed the street's bare feet and it was quite evident that he was dying for a sense of belonging.

"Good morning, could you please give me fifty dollars to buy something to eat. I haven't eaten anything two days now. I am starving," an eight-year-old boy said with a frown on his face and tears in his eyes, a symbol of hunger.

"Sorry dude, my pocket is empty. I have only my fare. If I have it, I wouldn't hesitate to give you the fifty boxes," I said to him.

He nodded his head. Tears of anguish and hunger stained his face. I watched as he went inside the supermarket. He looked up on the shelves that had snacks on them as tears poured slowly down his cheeks.

Not long ago his big brother got smoked for trying to break into a store. He crawled slowly out of the supermarket with his head held down and went to sit on a step at the entrance of a restaurant.

I swear I could hear his cry, and I swear I could feel his pain. My emotions woke up and ate me alive because I wasn't able to assist him. From then I knew black diamond's cry.

"I may not be in the position to help anyone now but one day I will be able to help a million people. I am planting these words as seeds because without a shadow of doubt they will germinate," I muttered inside my head. "A tear drop can germinate a seed of desire."

Seconds later I got a cab, as I reached my destination, I walked to the corner of a building and met upon two old friends, Sid and Pablo. We were basically friends from primary school up until high school. They were both hanging out with friends at the corner of an abandon building.

"What a gwaan Joshua, what's up man?" Sid asked as we greeted each other in high spirit.

"Ratings Josh," Pablo hailed.

"Everything good, how is life?" I asked.

"Life," Sid answered laughing. "Life is rough. It gets harder and harder on us every day. I'm just trying to fight for survival. Sometimes I feel like I want to give up. I matriculated for the University of Technology and can't find the first dollar to go. My mom passed away last month, and I can't get a job even though I tried on several occasions. Life is a mess right now."

"Quit saying life is rough, what's the use. Put your head to the wheel and figure a way to climb out of the mess. That's what you ought to be doing. Life has been hard on me from ever since my dad stepped out of my life. Because of that, should I be a quitter? I don't believe, not even for a second that survivors should quit. Life is what you desire it to be through actions. Life demands strong mentally fit soldiers, and I know you have it in you. We are still fortunate to have life. We should be thankful for what we have. The smallest blessings are always the greatest blessings. Some of the slightest thing we take for granted is gold and diamond to someone else," I persisted.

"Respect thugs, I will never forget those powerful encouraging words," Sid replied.

"Real talk, true as bible dwag," said Pablo.

"Aye yow, you know what they say, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer which is true but I don't always support this claim. Life gives all of us the power to accumulate any material desire just like anybody else. You know what most people problems are, they lack the will-power to go after what their heart desire. One last thing, we are the flowers and this is the drought. The best way to survive the game of life is by deep thinking and by strategizes to help us exploit our talents and skills. Nobody is going to knock on your door and give you anything," I advised. "If we put our minds to anything our hearts desire it is more than possible to achieve. That is the art of transmuting desire into tangible objects. Nothing, nothing at all is impossible. Our power is our minds!"

DESPAIR

I look to the East I see despair

I look to the West I see despair

War and hate and blood and famine is everywhere

It seems the human empathy is beyond repair

But

I know I see the future, all is not lost

Good and faithful soldiers are here to bare the cross

Like me and you, though we be not much

Yet we will accomplish, we know in who we trust

No we will not slumber no we will not rest

But we will change the now to make the future best

For all the unborn children of every race and class Our faith is in the maker who will make it last.

– Heather Angeline Williams