The Portable self

The nomad knows
the portable self.
Nested in a dowry bag
of its own resources,
it is a three part invention
of spirit, head and heart.
An infinite fugue
of folly and tears,
curiosity and surprise
weaving a counterpoint
of baroque introspection.

The portable self
hangs its identity
on a tree of life
of past and present
scripted in careful calligraphy.
The fruit of contemplation
its nourishment,
the foliage of recollection
its shelter
the revelation of the moment
its comfort.

Washington DC 2002

See Context

About the Author

Therese Benadé, author of Kites of Good Fortune, writes about her heritage and upbringing in South Africa and her travels and living experiences on five continents. A Canadian citizen, she lives in Ipswich, Massachusetts with her husband, Jim Armstrong. Her two adult children are Rex and Kirstie van der Spuy. Read more...

Books
  • Kites of Good Fortune

    A story about the lives of the author’s ancestors at the Cape of Good hope in the 17th and 18th centuries. Published 2004. 

  • Anna, Dogter van Angela van Bengale

    The Afrikaans translation of Kites of Good Fortune.

  • Bluestocking

    Set in South Africa between 1880 and 1927, the book explores the intellectual and moral influences on South African women of the ‘head, heart and hand’ education brought by American teachers from Mount Holyoke College.

  • The Layered Life of Tok-Tokkie

    Stories from my life touching on my childhood, my travels and teaching career, on being an immigrant, on learning languages and unlearning racism.

All books...

Bits & Pieces
  • A Layered Identity
    Text and Keynote slides of my presentation to the Harriet Tubman Summer Institute 2011
  • Textile Trip to Gujarat
    Exploring a rich world of weaving, block printing and embroidery
  • Opening
    A cryptic chronological summary of the major events in my life that drove me to live in many places in the world.

All pieces...