Poets must help heal their communities’ restless hearts

LET’S get it straight, this country is quite something when it comes to cardiac issues.

Okay now and then we rob and mug each other, but that is not the main thing.

Some time ago the world was really impressed with us when that ou from Beaufort West did a heart transplant operation here in Cape Town.

Chris Barnard was his name. In the 70s the announcement was very good.

He was announced as Dr Chris Barnard and not as “baas Chris Barnard”. It was a relief for many of us from the Karoo, “here is a laanie that you do not need to call baas”.

Let me quickly add that I was born there, no wonder I am not really seen as a dumb guy. I am not saying that I am a genius, no, I’m just saying that I am not too dumb. This week there was a report that Professor Robin Kinsley was given a lifetime achievement award on cardio-thoracic issues. That is kwaai ek sê. Don’t you think?

The world must know that South Africa is all about heart issues. We are very serious when it comes to issues of the heart. Very serious.

I am proud about my birth here. Honestly. Excuse the pun, but my heart is here. I know yours is here too.

I am trying to explain that we are not merely an important international factor in the world of minerals and such goeters. We go to issues of the heart.

Issues of the heart are not usually taken serious by those who view the state economy as the fundamentals of life. I am pleading for the search of another view. It is just very sad that issues of the heart are so serious.

There is a wish that they might have been lighter. There is also a feeling that we could afford the medicine that helps us fight heart disease. Many cannot afford the finances.

As the world headquarters in the cardiology war we need to take this into our hearts. It is not an everyday exercise. It is a bit more serious than the prize Kinsley won. It is a cardiac issue more serious than the medical science involved. This is also a call to international people to recognise we are an important aspect in issues of the heart. The issue must get so popular that every human being knows that a new heart can be gotten in this country any time yours gets tired.

What many people do not know is that some of the biggest players in the heart discourse are poets.

Poets have been denied the role they must play. The state needs to fund poets. People who are heartbroken for instance can get immense relief from poets who can contribute in mending broken hearts.

By listening or reading beautiful lines one can be soothed immensely. So our government needs to assist poets in their immense task that goes beyond merely the literary aspect. Our poets need to be encouraged to get involved in their communities not as mere literary personalities, but to mend the restlessness of the heart.

I am suggesting that the Ministry of Education engages society on this important aspect. It is obvious that poetry is just the additional aspect in mending our hearts. Is it not clear? Jislaaik!

Is it not time that our country takes poetry seriously?

The heart is really what poets work on. So the big bosses in society need to look at poets as great players in the great battle of the heart. It is not serious stupidity to pretend that one does not know the power of the poetic line on the heart, but it is difficult to speak and say this to an arrogant and heartless people. But you are not arrogant and heartless. Are you?