Steven Oliver: a poem on why Reconciliation is important

Many of you will have met deadly poet and performer Steven Oliver here before with his powerful and challenging words on identity (Real and Me I Am), but today he's sharing what Reconciliation means to him, as part of National Reconciliation Week 2012.

FOR WHEN YOU’RE WELL,

YOU ARE STRONG

I had a cut upon my foot

At first it wasn’t worth a look

It didn’t bother me at all

This cut I had that was so small

I walked around on it for weeks

What did I care I still looked sleek

I simply hid it with my shoe

It seemed to be the thing to do

But then when I removed my sock

Boy was I in for a shock

I came to realise this day

The cut had just not gone away

If anything it’d gotten worse

And now seemed like a violent curse

That laid upon my beautiful foot

Displaying its infected look

I started to cry, I could not talk

For I realised I could not walk

The little cut had come to be

Something big now harming me

Why? I questioned my own self

Did I not care about my health?

I should’ve when I had the chance

For now I am not free to dance

Or jump or run against the wind

And feel the breeze against my skin

Moving forward it would seem

Felt as if it were a dream

But then I stopped and took a breath

Before I got out of my depth

And let the fear take a hold

For then the drama would unfold

I realised for me to feel

Better I must start to heal

This cut that threatened my well being

That I had left so long unseen

Had to be dealt now with a hand

That would make me a better man

I sought advice and came to see

Just how foolish I had been

If only common sense prevailed

And I saw what ignorance entailed

Then I would’ve fixed it straight away

Instead of waiting for the day

When pain and suffering made me see

What really was the best for me

Was to take care of what I had

And to never let it get that bad

I’ve fixed it now and thankfully

I walk around quite easily

I walk and run in leaps and bounds

And strut my stuff about the town

I strut my stuff because I can

Because I’m now the kind of man

Who’s finally come to realise

It’s just no use trying to disguise

Something wrong when obviously

If you’re not healed then you’re not free

So fix whatever may be wrong

For when you’re well, you are strong

© Steven Oliver 2012