Within a few hours of stepping off the plane after 24 hours travelling from South Africa at The National Arts Festival. I’m sat in studio at the BBC in central London. I’m talking to Guy Raz and it’s for a show called TED Radio Hour. It is my number one favourite podcast on planet earth and to be asked to take part is a big deal. It describes itself thus: “Ted Radio Hour – A journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions and new ways to think and create. based on Ted Talks.
But I’m tired. After half an hour I find it difficult to articulate. It’s unexpected but not the kind of unexpected I expected. If the interview is a warm bay then I’m treading water far from the coast. Guy’s voice is coming from the sky. I am shouting my answers back. His voice is calm soothing honest enquiring and sincere. He wills me to the coast. And just as I’m helped to stand, it’s over. Ninety minutes. We say our goodbyes and i walk through fibreoptics out of the BBC and into the city heat. Sometimes my story, which I try to articulate in a way that I feel makes it manageable and palatable, sometimes it falls apart. The audience for Ted Radio Hour is 30 million. It’ll be broadcast in August.
From tears to triumph; a testimony well reported. I realize your childhood experience of religion was totally sucky (as was mine), and in the midst of a very tough emotional journey, but I do praise God that His Spirit in you was not vanquished. Your poetry speaks of a tender warrior, a beautiful soul and a kind human being. Thanks for continuing to “report back”, to share, to be the voice of the Child. Blessings and Peace! This was a truly touching report.
Thankyou. That’s very kind of you to say.
For years now, I’ve enjoyed many TED talk speakers but your presentation took me by surprise. Today I discovered your story and your poetry, sir. Your talk moved me to tears, as I was also adopted and it seems the majority of our adopted/fostered stories are similar in terms of that ‘point of reference’ and where we belong. It is only as adults that we can make conscious choices as to who we will become in spite of our fractured childhoods and sadly, that feeling of ‘disconnectedness’. Too many of us did indeed fall through the cracks because of government incompetence and/or lack of empathy, resources. A child of the state is too often forgotten, neglected and left to their own fates. More often than not, we are left to ‘foster’ ourselves into adulthood. Thank you, Lemn for your bravery in speaking and ‘reporting back’. You are a beautiful soul and your light shines through, brightly.
Thankyou Christine. Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!
Hi, thanks for sharing your story. I have been wondering for some time, is there a watchdog or quality control group that checks on children in care?
Who watches the watchdog.
I heard your TED radio hour piece. Now I’m on your website looking for your poetry. I want to know more about you. I’m glad you’re here. Your story rends my heart and then pieces it together somehow.
Thankyou Valerie. Here’s to “piecing it together”.