Companions by Kai-Anne Clews, read by the poet and Francois van den Berg

There once was a blind man, and his name was Doubt, And all his life he could not see - Old man Doubt was blind from birth, and he often wondered about this mystery… He had a friend who was not blind, but had sight, With whom he loved his friendly fights… His name was Faith and as he’d go about, He would describe what he saw to his good friend Doubt. “Ah tell me again of the sunset,” “You said it’s so pretty that you weep… All the sunset means to me, is that it gets cold and then I go sleep.” “Today’s sunset is truly splendid.” said Faith, sitting down next to Doubt, Happily the old man grumbled and at his argument set about. “So, What’s it all about hey? Describe to me what you see… So I might understand and So then I might believe.” Faith looked at Doubt, Who could not even return his gaze, And slowly Faith tried to paint what he saw with a phrase. “Well my friend, tonight's sunset is deep red, and fading orange and white to descend, There is a large cloud sloping at a mighty range Totally splashed with light, like a mountain, but with constant change. The birds are small as grain against its massive white hedges Encroaching on the blue deep sky the sunlight glowing on its fiery edges. The full Moon, at its huge distance from the Earth, Is silver and graceful and immeasurable in its worth. Just on the horizon, in a crisp white mist, crowned with stars, a beauty uneclipsed... The brilliant Sun itself has almost dipped completely over the edge of the World, and soon it will be night. Over the ledge we are hurled…” Doubt listened closely to his friend before he then spoke again, “Yes… yes… I remember you told me of colors, of the prime colors and how they mix - The feelings that they made one feel, but how can you find beauty in this? You told me red was danger, passion even fear, So how can this fear of heaven, Be beautiful to your eyes, let’s hear!” “It is not dread, that paints this red, Though it is passionate, and far larger than we, This kind of red, feels like more, respect, But yes, it can be called fear... But there are also many other colors, And many other feelings here.” Old man Doubt didn’t lik