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Poetry Ink
A poetic penetration on current affairs
Written by Mashabela K.N
Copyright & Publication details
Poetry Ink: A poetic penetration on current affairs by Nicholas Kgalagadishe Mashabela
Copyright © 2018 Mashabela K.N & DeShaba Media
All right Reserved
ISBN- 978-0-620-78181-7
Email: mashabelakn@gmail.com
: mashabelekn@yahoo.com
Cell: 0723884440/ 0742420124
Editing and Proofreading by: M.H. Makgaretsa
Cover design by DeShaba Media
Text typed by Deshaba Media
www.deshabamedia.com
Printed and bounded by DPS Printers
www.dps123.co.za
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced
into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by means of (electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to
criminal or civil prosecution.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedication I Pages
Author’s notes ii
Acknowledgements iv
Introduction v
1. Me being a WRITER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
2. POVERTY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
3. POWERS OF MONEY ……………..………………………………………………………………………………………….…… 3
4. LOVE IS A THING ……………………….………………………………………………………………………………............ 4
5. MIND……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
6. Face the music…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 6
7. RESPECT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…… 7
8. WAR…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 8
9. CORRUPTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 9
10. Life is a Time………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
11. KEEP GOING!.......................................................................................................................................... 11
12. Happy people………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
13. Unhappy people………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
14. AFRICA………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
15. Mandela a Hero………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
16. Biko a Hero………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16
17. The role of religion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
18. I WRITE.................................................................................................................................................. 18
19. Gold diggers………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19
20. PEER PRESSURE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
21. Satan………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 21
22.HUMILITY………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………......... 22
23. Wisdom…………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….………... 23
24. Dream deferred………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 24
25. Stolen souls…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………… 25
26. Guilt……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………… 26
27. Passion for Success……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... 27
28. Dreams are for Dreamers……………………………………………………………………………………………..….. 28
29. Blame game ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29
30. Let me talk to death……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30
31. Aptitude wealth………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 31
32. Now I regret …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 32
33. Unsung hero’s cry…………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 33
34. WE ARE WRITERS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 34
35. CONQUERED PEOPLE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 35
36. Lost identity………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 36
37. Fame game…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………. 37
38. Give me one more round……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38
39. Who am I?............................................................................................................................................. 39
40. MISPLACED………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….…….. 40
41. I am a teacher………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………….. 41
42. Aluta continua………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….. 42
43. Why Sidekick?....................................................................................................................................... 43
44. Two wards that define God & good: ……………………………………………………………….…………………. 44
45. Death is reality…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….. 45
46. The evil voices of the Doom Sayers…………………………………………………………………………………… 46
47. LET ME IN……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 47
48. Corrupt leaders………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………. 48
49. I wish I can be…………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………. 49
50. A country with two faces …………………………………………………………………………………………….…….. 50
51. Undecided…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 51
52. Mzanzi ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 52
53. THE BEGINNING AND THE END……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
54. Tribute to Mama Winnie…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……. 54
55. Democracy……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56
56. Raped ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 57
57. I say I am………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 58
58. Life goes on………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………. 60
59. Pimped…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 61
60. Young and naïve…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 63
61. No reason to love………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 65
62. Homage to Madiba ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 66
63. A place called home……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 68
64. Speak…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 69
65. Sugar diabetes………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 70
66. Dangerous world of poverty………………………………………………………………………………………………… 71
67. Celebrating the birth of a baby boy…………………………………………………………………………………….. 72
68. TEARS FOR A FRIEND……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 73
69. Depressed……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 74
70. Let’s love each other again…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 75
71. Let me sleep during the day…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 76
72. DEAR WIFE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 77
73. Sited on my favourite koppie………………………………………………………………………………………………. 78
74. Mekhukhung………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 79
75. An African speaks…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 80
76. Cries of the people……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 81
77. Why I write?........................................................................................................................................... 82
i
DEDICATION
will like to dedicate this book to my late great grandfather, Mphage Mashabela,
who was a real custodian of our clan “Ba-Madimong” of Mashabela in Lethole. It’s
through his vision and sacrifices that the family continue to stand still. Those who lived
during his time often described him as a “no-nonsense person”. They say “he was an
embodiment, paragon or epitome of hard-work and love for progress”. Those who
knew him say “he hated laziness”. Although his legacy is priceless, it’s through this
book that I wish to pay him a tribute for his contributions and sacrifices to the
development and unity of our clan. The first year of me being a published author
marked a defining moment for me and my family’s future, and for this reason, I
thought I should write something in memory of my late grandfather who deserve
endless praises.
Kind Regards
Kgalagadishe Nicholas Mashabela
I
ii
AUTHOR’S NOTES:
rocess of composing or writing poetry can be a very durable and tiring at
times, yet so harmonious and therapeutically liberating. Writing is a great
opportunity for people like you and I to talk-it-out and also share our creative ideas
with the rest of the world (to make expressions). Poetry writing is ancient, yet
remains a dynamic and transforming space for writer like poets to creatively ink or
write own emotions and experiences. Even after writers stop writing, their work
continues to live and penetrates the wounded hearts/heads of many readers across
the world. Writing books like this one is always a great step towards documenting and
publishing own and other people’s ideas into a world of tangible art. I respect the fact
that many books have been written to educate society, and with that in mind, I also
believe this book will too help to do the same, to educate in an outlook of creativity.
Poetry is something that we do not because we wish to appear clever amongst our
people, but merely because we want to satisfy our burning desire to change the world
for a better tomorrow. Those who said “falling into poetry is like falling in love” where
right, because indeed poetry writing is like love-making in a bedroom full of pens and
computers. For me, writing started as a hobby until it changed into an affable habit.
Well, wards can be products of our biros or computer keyboards, but are mostly
produced by people’s thoughts. This means that people’s thoughts or ideas are greater
sources of this art of words known to many as literature. “Poetry Writing” is a
permanent opportunity to ink such thoughts. Just as Steve Biko said “I write what I
like”, we also write what we like. We write down our dreams, fears and hopes because
we are freedom writers. We shall keep on speaking, singing and writing what we like so
that we can document and publish the thought of great minds gone, present and still
coming. Maybe those who said “if you cannot write your vision down, you are in
earnest” were right, well, we are freedom writers. Yes, we do this because we are
P
iii
students of Stokely Charmicheal, Steve Biko, Ezekia Mphahlele, Harry Mashabela and
many more of our legends writers who remain voices of reason, or indeed have
shared reason d’être with us. Nonetheless, it will never get easy for poets to compose
or write poetry because poetry always evolves and arises with new needs (challenges)
for creativity and efforts. Poetry consumers’ high appetite for good poetry often
pushes poets to go extra mile in everything they do. Poets are expected to use words
in ways that will display creativity and also mine-out interest or excitement from the
readers. The beauty about poetry is that, like music, it sometimes gives people a
therapeutic element of phraseology sound (so called quatrain therapy). Think of a time
when you needed to see a psychologist/shrink to talk-out your challenges or
problems, and suddenly reading poetry becomes a good substitute for your needed
therapy. Poetry helps many people, particularly poetry authors and readers to deal
with emotional trials. Writing gives me great pleasure, and at times it gives me
goosebumps as I release good feeling hormones.
Poetry can also give poets a great opportunity to showcase their God given talents or
views. It’s through platforms like art of poetry that many of our heroes like Nelson
Mandela may best be praised or be remembered. To us, writing is a life obligation or
maybe a life itself. The most fundamental responsibility facing us (Authors of today) is
to work harder than ever to further enlighten our people with knowledge of daily
sorrows and joys of living. My friend Jacob Dikobo killed it when he said: “writer must
write until their words conquer a world of readers across the globe”, and he was
right. These are the recompenses you get from writing or reading poetry. I hope this
poetry book can help to transform the world to a point of no return, but to success.
Kind Regards
Mashabela K.N (The Poetic-Junkie)
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
would love to acknowledge all people who have made direct or interact
contribution to this book: More especially my wife, Mohube Hazel Mashabela, whose
inputs are truly priceless and countless. It is true that behind every story of a
successful man, there is a great woman who makes countless assistance to such
success story. Her seeds of support and encouragement have made a positive and
tangible influence to the success of this book of wisdom. Thank you “Modipadi a
Ngwatomosadi a Modipadi”.
By ipso jure (operation of law), I belong to my publisher and therefore I mustn’t forget
to thank the DESHABA MEDIA’s publication team for having supported me to produce
this magnum opus creation. Deshaba Media is really a company that supports its
authors as it did with me.
I
v
INTRODUCTION
t is true that life is filled with difficult situations and dynamic episodes, yet so much
thrilling and moving like a movie. Sometimes life loves to throw curved balls at us,
but we still learn to kick it that way. Even though sometimes one may feel like life is
paved with crushes, headaches and heartaches, certainly you would agree with me
that life is also a great opportunity for us to experience a lot of positive & negative
things that many people before us couldn’t experience; nonetheless, we need not to
stop looking for new experiences and ways of preserving what we know or have
learned through history. It’s therefore central that we document these experiences
(knowledge), even if it means using poetry writing to ink and preserve this wealth of
knowledge, so be it. Yes, from politics, corruption, love and all other social issues, this
book will engage them in the most artistic or poetic manner that none of us can ever
imagine, but certainly we will all enjoy.
Many at times, people have been employing different methods to preserve and
documents knowledge, but very few have done so through poetry: However, in recent
times, poetry has reclaimed its place as the oldest form of literature. Writers have a
standing obligation to safeguard the experiences of all their people. We don’t need an
army or money to discharge this obligation: all we need is heart, ink and action. This
book will most probably fulfill the responsibility that modern poetry has inherited from
the old and the oldest. Yes, we are freely inking the thoughts and experiences of our
fellows, as Biko said, we are free writers because “we write what we like”.
We are using the power of words to change the world for better. Arts of wording such
as music/poetry epitomize the power of influence and attraction: the words we use
and how we use them determine the fate of their massage. For example, when we use
positive words, we attract positive things, and certainly when we use negative words
I
vi
we will attract negativity. When building hegemony: politicians often use art of word to
confuse and convince people, that is politics. When making art, musicians also use
words to create a musical massage that change people’s lives. Poets also use the
power of words to send powerful massages to the world. We use medium of poetry to
draw attention of the world to incongruity of corruption, prejudice and of disunity
among others. Our words of advice to young authors out there are: know that words
are powerful, and therefore, use them wisely. For me, “I am prepared to be hated for
being a serial writer of truths than being loved for publishing half-naked pictures of
myself using drugs or alcohol on social media just for likes and followings,” said
Mashabela. According to him, “poets are creators or life actors, poetry a life, and
writing poetry a living. We should never stop writing, because if we do, we would’ve
stopped living or experimenting”
Kind regards:
Deshaba Media
1
Me being a WRITER
I say to people!
Hey you!
Be warned,
This is my time to shine,
Time has arrived for me to ink
To write my beautiful dreams alone
Dreams to drive me delighted and tickled
This is writing for me, yes, me alone
Writing is my excuse to be alone than along
To deal with emotional trials and tribulations of life,
Yes, trajectories of life, bareness or loneliness
Indeed writing can be tiring and addictive process,
Yet to me is a way to escape destructive habits
(Drinking and drugging)
I will rather draw than drink or drug,
Rather devise than be a trend follower,
Rather compose than complain,
Rather be a creator than competitor
Yes, be a builder than a bully
Or plan to build than blame
Rather be aloof than amid
Yes, write than wine
Or move than mourn
Me being a writer
I feel emancipated
I chose to write
To Ink my views
“I write what I like”
Those were Biko’s words
I chose to ink my thoughts
I am a habitual writer
A freedom poet of late
By Mashabela KN
2
POVERTY
Poverty scarcity poverty paucity
Indeed you are nothing but enemy of the people
Some are angry,
Others are hungry
Dreams are deferred.
All because of you poverty.
Hopes are gone
Families are fading
Fathers aren’t working
Children are hungry
Crime goes high
All because of destitution
People are starving
No jobs for graduates
Uncles and aunts no job
Frustration the order of the day
Crime and prostitution goes high
All because of poverty
Bread price is high
Papas become sugar-daddies
Mothers sugar-mammies
Hunger has arrived
Children are vulnerable
People are angry
All because of poverty
Emotions are high
People want change
Change of government
Change in their lives
All because of poverty By Mashabela K.N
3
POWERS OF MONEY
If you don’t know!
Money is power
Power to effect change
“Love of Money is the root of all evils”
So says the bible, God Jehovah has spoken
If used righteously and valuably
Money can be a vigor, force of change
If used wrongfully, it can destroy
Money is power, pillar of change
If not respected, money destruct
If used properly, money can build
Money also a seed
God’s seed for the earth to shine
For those who don’t know
Money can be a devil
Only when misused
It can too be a blessing
Only when is valued
Money a power
A force of change
Indeed money is power
By Mashabela K.N
4
Let me write a poem about love:
LOVE IS!
What is love?
Contrary to popular believe
Love is an action
Yet a doing word
Actually, Love is a thing
Yet a tangible dynamic thing
Indeed Love is what we do to other,
Yes, is blind and patient,
It doesn’t look for wrongs, but right
It cares to give and protect
What is done in love is done well
Love heals the wounds of rejection and hate
Love grows, but also dies
When it dies, know it is time to go
To find another living love
Yes, good living love rather than bad and dead
Love lives and die
Indeed Love is a living thing, but not eternal res
Like a tree, it grows and dies
It surely needs nutrients and fertilizers like a seed
Give more love to yourself
So as to love your neighbors more
Without love you are nothing
‘Love all if you can’
So says the bible
Jehovah has spoken
By Mashabela KN
5
MIND
Who would mind to tell me what is mind?
Mind is wealth!
Mind your mind
God given treasure is mind,
Mind-spot a hotspot of thoughts
Mind a great asset for life,
It doesn’t sleep or slumber
That is the nature of mind
Mind is a creator of created,
That is the power of mind
Be mindful of people’s mentality,
All things comes from mind alone
Who has the power to create than Mind?
Now I am ideologist or materialist maybe
God’s gift for humans is mind, power in our lives is mind
All things start with thoughts in our mind
Baby a product of mind
Now I am writing a poem
Writing start with mind
Creation is mentality
Now I’m a creator
I created a book
Mind is a source
Source of ideas and creation is mind
Mind your Mind
By Mashabela K.N
6
WHY SHALL I TRUST THEE?
While standing on pulpits of lies,
Thee promised citizens heaven and earth
And to provide good life to our people
Instead they bought us t-shirts of slogans and holy waters
And promising to build RDPs for citizens
Or to give grants to poor children of the land of the lord
They care for us only during eras of elections for parties or personalities
To them, we are nothing but voting machines
If they want, they drive us to elections to vote
Or speak promises they never keep
But no, they turned out to be false prophets
And tell me why shall i trust thee my people?
When those that ought to stand for us are all mischievous and misleading
Leaders have become con artists.
Let us stand for ourselves,
Let us vote them out of office or politics for good
Corruption and selfishness flows through their veins.
My people, why shall I trust thee?
Tell me why shall I not compere thee to Satan?
Let us fight our battle against corruption and poverty
Yes, is better to trust in self that to others
Take your arms we are going to war
Unite against corruption and poverty
Evils whose aim is to destroy society
Thee promised us progress but gave us poverty
Thee promised us comfort but gave us corruption
Tell me why shall I trust thee?
By Mashabela KN
7
MY AFRICAN QUEEN
I’m remembering the first time seeing her
Yah Neh. I was charmed
One word that defined her was to say a STAR
'She is a rare breed,' I thought
Yes, she's a Tsarina suited for an African king like me.
I am a Tsar of brain & ink, and her, of brain & beauty.
'Together we can make magic', I assumed!
Her skin colour is so smooth like fresh milk from my father’s favourite cow.
She's got a body of an angel Queen
Cleopatra the goddess beauty is nothing to her gorgeousness.
Oh! Your majesty the attractive Tsarina!
You're the most shining STAR to lit my family
You are sweet as a watermelon from my mother's farm
If I were Romeo I would promise to die for you
And if I were Tutankhamen I would give you raw gold
Oh my queen, I love you eternally
Many women want to be you
And many men want to be with you I guess
But you are taken my Queen
Your lovely smile portrays a positive omen of fortune and success.
Your beauty is a breeze or a flame of life
My love for you is like fish's love for water
When the Angels see you they salute with envy,
They began to ask each other, "but why"
Why is there a more beautiful angel than us? They ask
She is so cute like a model angel.
Her beauty shines forth from her characteristics.
Her behavior is second to none.
Her character defines her reactions to life
So lovely, so simple and so caring is her nature.
She is beautiful yet humble to the ordinary
And I love her coz she's always mellow like melon
Ways of her life is always amazing to follow.
Her identical curves gives her confidence.
She cleans her teeth white like a restaurant glass
Her lips are natural like strawberry.
Her eyes are as attractive as an ocean waves.
A kiss from her takes me to a place called Dizziness Island
Her smile is capable of making men's hearts dance like M Jackson.
She's the most mannered girl among all.
She's perfect like a perfectionist
Her touch makes me dizzy like drugs of sexualization.
I can say she's one of the rarest ladies I've came to know
She is a prayer warrior fighting for all
Yes, she prays like Mohammad
Jesus is her role model in spirituality
She is capable of loving or to be loved
Yah, she is so charming like Mr-right
Coz she is Mrs-Right, a Queen of life
My African Queen
By Mashabela KN
8
WAR
Fighting can’t stop fighting
History has taught us this.
War is war
Make love clearly not war
So says the youth of 1970s
Make money not in the war, but out of it I say
Indeed young people have spoken
Make love and peace for warmongers
War is for war-makers or warmongers,
Cause they are aggressive
You are a peacemaker, yours is to make harmony
War vs peace, who is the winner?
Peacemakers create cease-fire,
Warmongers make fire
Cease-firers vs Fire-makers
Who is a victor?
War must end. Now or never
War destroys people, families and nations
War must end, dark or blue
War is like a cancer, it eat without shame
War destroys economies
It must end, not even dare to start
War has caused a lot of problems in the Universe,
But has not solved one yet.
Now is time for peace
By Mashabela KN
9
CORRUPTION
In a cacophonic society
Some call it “collusion”
Others say ‘maladministration’
Yet corruption is corruption
Nothing but a criminal activity
We think it’s normal but it is not
We do it without share or shame, but it’s not fair or fame at all
We do it at night, but it wakes-up in the morning
We do it in-camera, but it comes out on camera
We think no one sees us, but the world is looking
We think we are smart, but actually we are outwitted and imprudent
Otherwise not wise enough for life
Corruption is a disease which affects all people
Call it white monopoly capital,
Or black monopoly corruption
We are all infected and affected by it
It is a known-secret that most of us paid or will pay bribes to traffic officials
Job for money or sex is corruption
That is petty but pure corruption
Some think they are less corrupt because they do trivial bribes or payoffs
But, reality says we are all corrupt
Corruption is the devil of today
He has no heart at all
He takes without giving
In the open he depict himself as good and Godly
In the dark he becomes a sinner and blood-drinker
His name is Corruption because he is cruel and criminal
By Mashabela KN
10
Life is a Time
What is life? They asked
Shhhh! I’ve forgotten
Some think is a movie
Cause it makes bad or good episodes,
Others think it is a journey
Coz it shows pathways,
Humps and pothole
Bad or good
Life is time
Some says life is what you make it to be,
But life is unique for all of us
Yet dynamic and alive
When you die, there is no life
Some say life is a time
Yes, life is a moment
We all refer to our lives as “during his time or her time”.
Everything lived or will leave its time
We will too live and leave-out our time (Die)
Since I have no time here, my life is gone.
That is life, because life is time
It has seasons and moments
We all live and leave our time
Mine is now
Tomorrow I am gone
Life is Time!
No more will you see me.
Time will be gone
By Mashabela KN
11
KEEP GOING!
Before I acknowledged my knowledge of truth,
They said “I am a failure”,
Some saying “I am a pain to my parents”,
Said “I am a shame to my community”
And a wet blanket to a country full of opportunities
I wanted to believe them as it where
But, I know I was better than that now and then
I use to listen to them and their venomous words
Eavesdropped to them trying to destroy innocent soul of a boy
Sometimes I will go bananas due to their evil words
Confusion became my friend due to their words
And all I could feel was pain and miscarriage of hope in my heart,
But my head said NO.
You are not a failure, but a fortune for a future
I listened to my head, and started building my future
I said I will keep going, going and going for my life
Until I see my beautiful dreams of prosperity
Dreams of a better future an victory
I shall keep going I said!
This is for me to do
Keep going I say!
By Mashabela KN
12
Happy people
Confidence is their nature
Happiness is their security
Peace is their ammunition to live
Pirates is their team to support
They are always at ease with life
Freedom is their Friend
They are victors of their situation
Success is their formula in life
Motion is their program
Happy people.
Accept defeat and tease
Innocence is their inner peace
Sadness is their enemy
Happy people
Always hype and higher
Alone and working
What they need is none, but joy
Happy people.
They need nobody,
But peace
By Mashabela K.N
13
Unhappy people
Too dense to dance to a trance dance of life
Self-insecurity is their nature
Sadness is their security
Anger is their ammunition
They live in despair
Swallows is their team
Depression is their friend
They are victims of their situations
Failure is their formula
Emotions is their motion
Self-pity people
Blame-game is their attitudes
Guild is their guider and game
Happiness is their enemy
Self-pity people
All they feel is miasma
Always low and dry
Alone and helpless
What they need is love and empowerment
Self-pity people
They need encouragements and love
Unhappy people
By Mashabela K.N
14
FRICA
Africa my home
Africa my motherland
Land of milk and gold
Land of peace and power
‘Africa my beginning
Africa my ending
Cape to Cairo
Madagascar to Morocco’
Mzanzi to Tunisia
Some call you Azania
Others says Al-Kebulan
To me you are a mother
Home to my history
Past, present and future
Africa my home
I love Africa
By Mashabela K.N
A
15
andela a Hero
Son of a chief
Royal by blood
Champion by default
Leader by legacy
African by origin
Whether you like it or not
Mandela was a hero
Some says a trader
My conscious says no
Mandela was a hero
A man of charisma
Zealous man of influence
Mandela a hero
A voice of reason
A pillar of strength
A tree of life
A tree of peace
A tree of freedom
A tree of unity
All in the good name of democracy
Emancipation for his people
Mzanzi wethu
Truly speaking,
Mandela was a light
A light of love and hope
Whether you agree or no
By Mashabela Mandela was your hero
M
16
Biko is a Hero
A victor by default
A leader by legacy
African by origin
Whether you like it or not
Steve Biko was your hero
Some says unrealistic
My conscious says no
Biko was my hero
A tree of knowledge
A Dean of African pride
A tree of freedom for Azanians
A believer in African unity
All in the good name of Black consciousness
Emancipation for his people
Azanians and Africans
Steve Biko was a light
A light of knowledge and hope
Whether you agree or no
Biko is your hero
By Mashabela
17
The role of religion
Aim is to create order,
Healing for the sick
Just like schooling
Teachers are preachers
Students are congregants
Bible-Torah- Quran are books
Indeed Preachers are teachers
They teach and preach
Followers are pupils
They follow and learn
Aim is to learn the word of God
Without school, there is no future
Without religion, there is no order
All would be chaos
Religion is a guardian
Protector of the people
Role of religion
Amity and Order
Role of religion
By Mashabela K.N
18
I WRITE
How do you write? They asked
I know why & what I write
Yet I don't know how I write
Only my pen and ink could explain
Cuz my computer keyboard was plain and blocked
I pens down all times my pain and points
I drop emotional lines like droplets of rainfall
But I'm not lame like lunatics
I whisper rhymes of love and life via poetry
They thought I'm chanting a magic of insanity
Yet I was locked up in a psychiatric game of writing my poems
My hands have lost their magic torch yesterday
But I’m not a loser but a learner ready to go
I soldiered on
I'm a poetic junkie with a mission to inspire the universe
I'm a bishop of my own religion to ink or write
My pencil shall stand witness to my ink
My paper could play witness to my pen
Coz I'm not a witness but a writer
Tell this to a parent
I need no more food and cloths but pens and papers
I'm perfectly okay with writing my poems
Dear mothers and fathers
Please stop leading me but listen to my words
I'm a writer not a chancer
I am a creator not a follower
I write my rights
I write right and light
I write the truth
By Mashabela KN
19
old diggers
Look!!
Everybody jobbing is a gold digger
Miner a digger!
Prostitute a digger!
Hustler a digger!
All looking for golden money
Brothers no sleep, Sisters no sleep
All digging for Gold in Gauteng-Maboneng
Girls are digging for Gold day and night
Prostitution is the name of the movie
Fathers and mothers no sleep
All digging for gold in Pretoria-Mahlangeng
Brothers looking for jobs and Joy
All in the name of hustling
Yet it creates vie and drama
Crime is the name of the film
Uncles and aunts no sleep
All digging for Gold in Brits-Maburung
Faming is the name of the action
All in the name of quest for money
Many if not men are gold diggers
Looking for money and Gold
By Mashabela K.N.
G
20
EER PRESSURE
Unable to make a choice
There I was!
Pure and innocent
Until they came,
Friends of doom and dump
They said come, I said no
They said you are not cool but cold
I know they were wrong
But peer pressure said be cool and chic
They took me under their arms
I was forced to make a choice
I smoked, stole and raped
I thought I was cool and adored
I thought they liked me, but I was wrong
They doomed and dumped me in hell
Here I am, talking to you from Jail
Now I am free from peers of woe
Friends of doom
Groups of glum
Peer Pressure I run
Run from you while in jail
Now I’m alone, aloof and alert. Ready for peer pressure
By Mashabela K.N
P
21
Satan
Devil is a nickname
Evil we describe his acts
Subject of reticule
Criminal by default
That is Satan or imp
We all fear him
Though we never saw
Not even at night
Satan lives and lures us
Evil and harm are his friends
He never sleeps or adores
Indeed a friend of witches
Target to blame and error
Even when innocent
Satan is blamed
Cursed forever by God
Time and time
Satan is to blame
By Mashabela K.N
22
I AM CORRUPT, AND I KNOW IT
We leaders have become con artists!!
Let me steal today and no more
Let me steal this money
It is crime I know
My supporters said they will protect their leader
I rejected cleanness and honesty
Like a drug addict I got tempted to pinch
I rejected advises and rules of the office
I chose to corrupt and get corrupted
My fans and supporters kept supporting their leader
Thinking I was innocent and clean like Tutu
They build a wall of fences for my offences
Couldn’t argue with my critics
Yet he who questions my ways was killed or purged
Corruption is my way to wealth
“He’s corrupt but a governor of our nation,” they said
"He's the leader of our troubled country"
He who dares to crisis my ways is shown a way
I do my crimes best at best moments in time
Behold, I can't mess with my supporters
But I can mesmerize my critics
That's what makes me an extraordinary politician
If I speak VIVA or amandla to comrades,
Standing on a pulpit of lies
Yes, I can win the world
Or play victims of political conspiracy
This to avoid prison and law
If I want, I can blame capitalism and others for my crimes
Doubt me not, oh citizens!
I'm resourceful, vicious kind and giving
Yet at times I can be cruel and a criminal
My supporters know me better than you.
I am corrupt and I know it,
But they support me still
I am your leader
By Mashabela KN
23
WISDOM
Priceless like life
Wisdom my value
Key to success and eternity
Knowledge is that key
Opens doors for people to help you
Wisdom teaches and tells
It guides us to give, so as to receive
Wisdom my value, wisdom my wealth
Love more it says, we need people to succeed
‘No man is an island’
A wise man has said
Respect for money, a financial wisdom
Loving people or things, principle for humanity
Fear your God, principle for life
Respect parents, luck will follow
Reject wrong, right is yours
Learn to live
Wisdom will follow
That is wisdom
By Mashabela K.N
24
Dream deferred
Unity a dream
Africa’s dream is dead
A dream deferred and dropped
Lost in direction and by direction
Nkrumah’s dream is dead
OAU has changed to AU a name
Turn of events, Nkrumah to Mbeki
Change of tune, Azania’s dream is dead
United Africa a dream deferred and late
Gadhafi now dead, Mugabe’s dream is dead
All are dead, Mbeki is called and gone
Direction lost, Cape to Cairo no more a dream
Talk is cheap, now is time
Time to unite Africa
Africa our land
Unite!
By Mashabela K.N
25
Stolen souls
Stolen indeed I say
Souls of youth are gone
Stolen yet too young for death
Future is gone too soon because of drugs and alcohol
Purity is gone too soon because of Sex and substance
Sister’s life is cheap, brother’s life is taken
Nyaope a thief, Alcohol & Sex associates in crime
Addiction is the name of the game. All these for what?
Rhetorically I ask: all these for what?
Addicted to drugs tomorrow a slave to Nyaope
Addicted to money tomorrow a slave to Prostitution
Addicted to sex tomorrow a slave to pornography
Rhetorically I ask: all these for what?
Endorphin is the rewards
Three enemies of men and women; drugs, sex and money,
Evils whose aim is to steal and ends lives.
Captured are young boys and girls
Future is gone too soon because of money and drugs
All conquered by three things
Friends of evil and doom
Alcohol, drugs and sex
Captured indeed I say
Souls of youth Stolen
Mashabela K.N
26
Guilt
Guilt.
Guilt like fear,
Has to be conquered
Meditation is the answer
Talk to someone about it
Guilt a friend of fear and hate
All destructors of the inner peace
It takes and end people’s freedom.
Guilt a silent killer of all our dreams
Free yourself from guilt and fear
Learn to let go of guilt and hate
Forgiveness is the right weapon
Forgive to release the pain you feel
Redeem yourself from it I say
All is not lost or last
Guilt an enemy of
Mine and
Yours too
Guilt must be conquered
By Mashabela K.N
27
Passion for Success
Look!
Passion is a hunger
Passion is purposeful
Drive of victory for mission
Passion + purpose = prosperity
A duty to live forever for our dreams
All you need is passion for your vision
With passion, impossible is possible
Without a passion your vision is dead
Passion for people = prosperity
Passion is a fuel for a mission
Passion is profitable
Advice is to start
Start with a passion!
It has to start with a question
Are you hungry for something?
If you do, that is your passion!
I end not to submit, but to submerge
By Mashabela K.N
28
Dreams are for Dreamers
Dreamers’ trance for life
To dream is to live
Without dreams life is a myth
All we do is try and tremble
Tremble trying than dream no more
Successful dreamer works on their dreams
While the opposite works in their dreams
If you are a do-dreamer like Mandela:
Work on your dreams
When you do you shall triumph
Dreamers must have missions to achieves visions
Real visionaries are dreamers who are doers
Success to them is certain and doable
Dreamer’s dream is to dream
While doers work on their dreams,
Dreamers daydream to receive Manna from heaven.
Indeed dreams are for dreamers
So says a dreamer who do
By Mashabela K.N
29
Blame game
Blame it on apartheid
Blame it on parents
All I know you are at fault
Blame it on witches
Blame it on government
All I know you are wrong
Plenty of blames we do
Never learn to own-up to our mistakes
Call this a weakness
But hypocrisy is reality
When you know you are wrong
Own up to your wrongs
You said you are not corrupt
Yet you pay bribes to traffic officers
All in the good name of freedom
Freedom to corrupt or be corrupted
Later you blame someone for you deeds
Blame it on traffic officers
But all I know you are corrupt
Blame game you play
A game everybody does
Why, I ask?
By Mashabela K.N
30
LET ME TALK TO DEATH
Hello Death!
How are you?
The creator of darkness and sorrow
Today I am talking to you face to face
You are a frizzy fuzzy of the dazzling fury
You took my parents, siblings and my friends
You fuddled my world as if you own it
Now it's time to converse with you
Even though I am scared of you
I've come to face thy ugly face
Tell me why you stole my people.
Nothing is as persistent as you in life
The first time I came in contact with you,
It was during a car accident I survived
Where I saw your ugly head and eyes of darkness
You scared me and left trauma and anxiety
Post two weeks of that I lost my uncle
Thinking it was a curse, but there you were
I was afraid of your actions
Scared of darkness and sorrow you brought
Every plan I had has gone array
All because of you
I was freezing about frigidity of my life until now.
Now I'm strong willing to fight
Or ready to die for what I believe like Madiba
Defending life of thy human
I am standing tall above thy death
Before death I shall live and conquer thy world with my ink
As for you death, I shall be ready
Sure, this is not a threat but a promise
My God is my rock and a solid protector of my time
You are but a mere failed autocrat
I have come to tell you this frankly
I am armed and ready waiting for you death
Walk away while you still can
Or die trying like Alexander the great
Death, I am talking to you By Mashabela KN
31
Aptitude wealth
Also called IQ
Intelligent is a gift
Wealth of emotional intelligence
Psychologists must use it to diagnose people’s emotions
Wealth of Physical intelligence
Athletes must have it to run the rounds
Wealth of Arithmetic intelligence
Mathematicians must use it to innovate
Wealth of Social intelligence
Politicians must have it to influence society
Wealth of Communiqué intelligence
Gift for salespersons and marketers
Wealth of Fiscal intelligence
Economists must have it
Wealth of Tech intelligence
Technicians must have it
Wealth of Artistic intelligence
Artists shows it all times
Wealth of Scientific intelligence
Scientists must have it for innovation
Beneficiaries of nine intelligences
I end to not to divest, but to breathe
By Mashabela K.N
32
Now I regret
Celibacy is purity
Pride for the kids
Nobody but children
Pure Virginity for youth
Aimed to protect me and you
Celibacy is purity for safety
Stolen by the Sugar daddies and mamas
Elders know what they are doing or saying.
They have eaten the fruit of Eden
They said never start or test
Curiosity said no.
I did not listen for a moment
Alcohol to cigarettes were there
Sex, money and drugs said come!
To feel the test of being high and sexy
Now I’m addicted to junk and junkie-status
They said abstain for a course
I said no and tested it
Yes it was painful
Yet pleasurable I felt
Now purity is gone
The end is regrets
Addiction is regretted
By Mashabela K.N
33
Unsung hero’s cry
They forgot us!!
You and I forgotten!
No song for our contributions
All they honour are leaders
Sing nice praises for elites
Praises and remembers the presidents
Sing the songs of love for Prime ministers
All they applause are king and heads of state
Yet they forget us unsung heroes
Why no song for follower?
Deputy Presidents are forgotten
Policemen no song and Soldiers are forgotten
Teachers no song
Social workers no praise
Nurses forgotten
All songs for doctors and donors
No praises for queens
No song for ordinary citizens
Why I ask?
By Mashabela K.N
34
WE ARE WRITERS
Hey!
Turn to this side
Look what WE achieved
WE ARE WRITERS
Helpers who happen to write
We can't help all but those in need
We're the voice of the voiceless yes,
Or reminders of the forgotten masses.
We're the hope of the hopeless.
The helpers of the helpless indeed,
We are who we are
We're emancipators of the captured
Children of the lord
We are here to write and help
We won't disappear like the sun at noon,
But be like the morning sun that shines the world like Jesus and Mohammed
Not to be misunderstood
For, we are day dreamers who dare to help and emancipate
Maybe we won't mourn the darkness of the night like the day.
Or fear drought like the fishes and plants of the river valley of the Nile
When the night fears the daylight,
We (the days) cry that the night is far away from us.
Even if the time of our lives is forgotten,
We hope the lives of our time will live forever
May poetry never faints like king Monada.
We who write may be gone,
But our ink will forever live
We may be gone yes
But the footprints of our pen remain
Our good ways will remain with us forever.
We write for peace
We write love
We are writers
By Mashabela K.N
35
CONQUERED PEOPLE
We were alone
Together as Africans
Until they came, through rivers and ocean
We thought they were visitors
But we were wrong,
Plan was to colonize
They changed our languages
Gave us cloths and western things
Ours thrown away
Took us to school
All in the good name of civilization
Aim was to indoctrinate and influence
Took our possessions
Also our land, not by will
Force was used
Africans were defeated
All were conquered
Africa a colony
Colony for westerners
By Mashabela K.N
36
Lost identity
Stuck in a wrong skin
Story of lost identity
Black outside but white in
He wanted to be the opposite,
But contrary was reality
He thought he was white,
But indeed he was black
He thought he was a woman
But indeed he was man
He thought he was a khoisan
But indeed he was a coloured
A wonderer in his own skin
All looking for was identity
A sense of belonging for self
Now lost and wasted
Wasted time for affection
Affirmably he was confused
All this for lost identity
He though was better than us
Some call him a coconut
Many says a gay
Others say a lost soul
Indeed he was lost
By Mashabela K.N
37
Fame game
All looking for fame and fashion
Prominence is the name of the game
Be famous and fabulous
All in the fine game of fame
Musicians are playing it
Fake it until you make it
Poetic fame is my favorite
Famous yet not fashionable
Loaned by those who love
Despised by those who vie and vile
Artist to politicians looking for it
All in the good name of the game
Women and men looking for it
Fame is the name of the game
Some tell me I am not yet poetic enough for fame
Or that my poems are less rhyming for the game
But I know I have a massage to tell
By Mashabela K.N
38
GIVE ME ONE MORE ROUND
Hey partner!
Touch my body,
Take away my undies,
Keep me on your chest
And make me your play ball.
Let us go to bed to play a drama of love
Or sleep and swim in the ocean of love
Making love in peace and on bed
Give me one more round I ask
Why can't we do more rounds?
And satisfy each other like lovers do
Doing it fast with a joyful pace
As you climb to me with passion and movement of love.
Why don't you give me one more round?
Never get tired of giving your passion in love
Give me one more round I beg
Give me styles that are too joyful to ignore
I will encourage you with hymn and quivers of pleasure
And sounds that are too loud to forget
I will thank you later I promise
Oh! You’re too attractive to avoid.
Only two rounds I shall be full
I want to drink your libido cup tea
Don't be stingy in giving rounds
Let the poison of your snake bites my cake.
Please give me one more round
It's only in love that I can be satisfied
When you give rounds give two or more I will be ok
So I can be satisfied
Damn! Your one round doesn't fulfill my hunger
Hello, feed me with erotic styles and rounds of love-making
Add sounds of romantic cries too,
Don't be a robot but a romantic
Handle me well and make me beg for more
Give me one more rounds I ask
Then I'll forever love you my love
Show me love I shall be satisfied
Give me one more rounds
By mashabela KN
39
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THANKS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
'Unkulungulu' 'Modimo'
Allow me to say one word or two
To say thank you for this day
You gave me time in life
Of physique and spiritual grounding.
And of mental and economic growth
Untie me from the pilgrim ship of self-doubt and fear
And die my feet and hands with a string of courage.
Unearth me from hate, hunger and anger
But place me in what we know to be true
In a place of love, peace and happiness
While we harvest the blossoms of love and happiness
Or fetching assonance of life
Of each time and moment you gave us
And taste the flavour of your fruits tree
Love, peace and happiness
We need to thank you
Let me employ my sweetened words
And say thanks once more.
Before I spun in a miasma of death and decay,
I shall say thanks again for life
By Mashabela Nicholas
40
MISPLACED
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong where you are?
Truly misplaced
There and then misplaced
Working yet still unhappy
Misplaced indeed I said
That was how I felt then and there my friend,
Never now I say
It all started there and then my comrade
In a place called work I guess
Yes, all I felt was sadness
It was work to them but not I
Indeed I was working but still unhappy
Never happy with the work I do or doing then
Never happy going to work, but pleased to come back home to write
I guess I was absorbed in a work never meant for me
Surely until one changed career and defeated inapt
Indeed change is demanding and painful to do,
Yet liberating I pronounce
Some said I was lost, but me thought misplace
For fear of failing I was scared to change
Now here I am placed where I belong
This place I can call home
I feel no work but joy
Not like there and then
Indeed I was misplaced
Now I’m happy and placed where I love
In a place called home
Placed were I enjoy
Not misplaced
By Mashabela K.N
41
I am a teacher
I made it all
Some said I am of no use
Others says I have no dollar, but bank-drought
With me knowing money isn’t everything
I say I am a teacher
Yes, I know I have no money but value
So says a teacher
The truth is clear
Architect made a skyscraper
Engineer a motor-car
Yes, scientist made scientific discoveries
But a teacher made all of them
Indeed that is reality of life
Nothing but truth
Some said teacher’s time is gone
Others gossip that teaching has no honour
All because of money and materials
Forgetting that teaching is a noble profession
Indeed a mother of all professions
So says a teacher
I am a creator
I made you all
By Mashabela K.N
42
Aluta continua
Cheating and looting continue
Corruption and Riots continues
All in the good name of democracy
Indeed an anecdote of a failing state
Maybe a demo-crazy
People are crazy and cruel
All in the good name of democracy
Criminals now have rights
Freedom to steal, kill and rape
All in the good name of democracy
Azania is gone and wasted
What is left is none but anger and hunger
Yes, black nation is angry and hungry
All emanating from the past
Many if not men are waiting to loot and kill
They never joined struggle to be poor
But to claim and take
Truly claim and take what is theirs and others
Land question unanswered
Struggle certainly must continue
All for a revolutionary course of our freedom
Mental slavery an enemy
Economic inequalities an enemy
Yes, people are not free at all
So say Steve Biko and Malema
Aluta must continue
By Mashabela KN
43
Sidekick
Hey ‘wena makhwapheng’
Should I call you sidekick?
Or a side-chick maybe
Be it you are a cheating tool.
What do you think you are doing?
Indeed you are opportunist
Yet a fooled ancillary
Now that our relationship is fragile
You advance to break in and break it
To substitute my love for my partner
What you are doing is wrong.
You and my partner are both wrong
How can you be so selfish?
You know it as much as I know
Even your name says a lot about you
All you are is a side-chick
Or side dish
Not a home meal
They kick you on the side
And come back home to me still
You are indeed a sidekick
Why do you want to come between us?
Indeed I ask you ‘Makhwapheng’
Why?
By Mashabela K.N
44
Two wards that define God & good
Love and peace
Indeed love is a reflection of peace
You are my love for your peace
And therefore my God
There is no way to live than to love you
You are all I love and need to survive
I don’t know what to do without you
Indeed there is no me without you
Well. If I forget you my love
I would’ve misrepresented my heart
Down in the end of my being
I know you are the reason I write
A reason I eat, live and indeed will die for you
You are my love, and therefore my peace
Without you I have no love or peace
With you, indeed there’s life
You are many weapons against my enemies
Hate and rejection
With your God, indeed I’m armed
Yes, God is Love and peace
You are my love
And therefore my peace
By Mashabela KN
45
Death is reality
It was early in the morning,
When death asked life why are you liked by everybody?
Life said coz I am beautiful
Dead responded, you are a liked lie, and me a painful truth
Though we know our fate
Knowing that we are all waiting for it
Death scares and leaves us trembled
Instead of preparing and planning for it
We wish to live forever
Yet knowing it’s impossible.
Let me tell you something!!
Death is a reality of life
Without death life will be unreal
Indeed I and you will die
For death is a bride of all families
‘Ukufa umakoti wemizi yonke’
‘Lehu ke ngwetsi ya malapa kamoka’
Death is reality of life
Surely death is a living thing
Whether we like it or not
Prepared or unprepared
Death shall visit us all
Don’t forget to live
Or plan for your last day
Death is waiting for us
By Mashabela K.N
46
The evil voices of the Doom Sayers
They said I am useless yet harmless and hopeful I was
They said nothing good would come out of my life, but here I am
They said my life would be over before it even started, but here I’ve started and still going
Those were the wicked awful voices of the Doom Sayers
Yes, the most dangerous people on the world we live today
Their prediction was that my background would determine my foreground, but I refused
Their prediction was that a poor boy like me was incapable of achieving success
Indeed their voices nearly broke and destroyed an innocent soul of a child, but I survived
They are always waiting for us to fail so that they can speak vile and negative about us
Yes, the doom Sayers have written me of even when I am still alive
Indeed the doom Sayers will turn your progress into grief and sadness
If they want, they can proclaim your rainy and sunny season to be nights of darkness and bleakness
Gossiping, blackmailing and backstabbing others is their weapons to destroy hopefuls like you and I
These are the negative voices of the DSs
Their voices always mean to destroy and bury the hopes and aspirations of the hopefuls
The voices of the DSs are aloud and always encoring in our ears, but I refused to listen
They say I will never see or test success because I am destined for failure
Though I know they are present, I never attempt to listen to these evil voices of the DSs
Are called Doom Sayers because they speak and see evil or failure where there is none
These are the vile and evil voices of the Doom Sayers who I came to call DSs cause they talk doom
The most dangerous people in the world we live
For those who don’t know, Doom Sayers live with us or amongst us
Don’t say I never told you about this, because I did
The Doom Sayers are like Holy Spirit
They are found anywhere and everywhere at anytime
We live with them in our homes, workplaces and everywhere they are there
Their work is to despise and disparage any persons who seek to improve their lives
The doom Sayers operate through jealousy and negativity
Theirs is to destroy and bury hopes and successes of the hopefuls
Your success is their pain, and your pain is their success
These are the Doom Sayers who prophesize vile and failure
The Most dangerous people of the world
The Doom Sayers
By Mashabela KN
47
LET ME IN
Let me be your friend
Not your enemy
So I can please and appreciate you
Or tease you possibly
Maybe be your preacher
So I can teach and touch you
Or be your partner
So I can lean or lough with you
You ought to learn to live with me
Let me in
So I can comfort none but you
Or console you maybe
When you see me like this
Know I am your friend
Not a chancer
But a comrade
Yes, I came here not to look for fortune or fame, but for a friend I believe
Be my friend
So I can love you my friend
Or maybe love you to bit
Let me give
So you can receive
Let me in
So I can be your friend
By Mashabela K.N
48
Corrupt leaders
Kingpins of complicity
They say you are corrupt
Some speak vile and vie about you
‘Rapist’ they call you now and then
Some says your time is gone
You raped mother justice they say
Economically you stole from the poor
Yet you see no wrong my leader
All these is water to you I guess
So says Quma my friend
Indeed you’re in a pool of water
Yet you claim your innocence like inmate
You promised but never delivered
Your job is clear and complete
Confuse & convince to influence
This is your way of life my leader
Your politics means confuse to convince
‘Viva’ is your powerful weapon to influence
‘Amandla’ a validation indeed
You lie without shame and guilt
Or steal without sharing and shame
Those are the cries and claims of the people you roped
Not my claims I say, but citizens’’ yells and nags
Theirs is water to you I suppose.
Indeed you are in for a swimming lesson
Yet you say you are not wet
Certainly you’re hypocrite leader of fame
Or a pathological liar of note
Those who believe are naïve
Yet idiotic and stupid I guess
Lie to them but not me
Corrupt leader I see you
By Mashabela K.N
49
Let me write a wish poem called:
I wish I can be
If only I can:
Yes, I will be jubilant like January,
Or fabulous like February so I can face my valentine
Maybe be marvelous like March so I can match for human rights
Or be awesome like April so I can appeal my judgment
I wish I can be meaningful like May
Or be joyous like June so I can join July my friend
Yes, be jolly like July
Maybe be organized like August so I can reach orgasm like organism
If only I can
I will be sober like September
Or be optimistic like October so a can opt for number one position
Yes, be normal like November
Maybe in December one can be a diviner like King David
If only I can be, I would
That is my wish
To be like month
So I can be
I wish I can be
By Mashabela K.N
50
A state with two faces
Love it or not
Mzanzi is a rainbow nation
Ours is a country full of colours,
A beautiful land full of peace and love
Yet some see violence and hate
All this because of media of odium and miasma
State loved by many men around the world
Women of the world say Mzansi is cool
Yet fake-news paddlers paint a story of a failing state
South Africa is said to be a dying nation without hope and honour
Yet many feel there is good story to tell
Some says Mzanzi’s rainbow nation is a myth
Ours is a contradicting tales of two faces land
A land deemed to be failing and fading
Yet a nation on a developmental mode
Some says ‘Mzansi is growing and glowing
Yet some speak vice and vile about my country
Those are the vile voices of doom sayers
Republic of South Africa is my country
Mzansi may be corrupt and cruel
If corrected it can be adored
So say a citizen
By Mashabela K.N
51
Undecided
Trapped between right and wrong
Or between rain and drought
Surrounded by many choices and options
Adam needs to make a choice
Inevitably he burst into tears of confusion
But the choice remain static to be discovered
God created the earth and man
He gave man a responsibility to look after the earth and everything in it
God gave man an intelligence to make choices and decision
So that they choose between good and evil
Or choose between right and wrong
But men saw an opportunity to conquer and influence
Still torn between right and wrong
Men must make a choice
Whether one is at a crossroad or not, choice must be made
What is it gonna be for you? Wrong or right
Indecision remains story of human race.
One must decide,
Between right or wrong
Undecided no more
We must make choices
By Mashabela KN
52
Mzanzi wethu!
From Mosina in the north to Cape Agulhas in the south
Limpopo River to Roben-Island
A land situation in the far tip of Africa
A star-country shinning in the middle of galaxy-wave
A country created through blood and sweets
Land troubled by colonialism and imperialism
A country divided through segregation and separation
Yet still captured by mighty apartheid regime itself
1910 is deemed to be the birth year of our country
But Azania was way older than that
Maybe origin of human kind it is
A land compromised through FREEDOM CHARTER and CODESA
Or revived though elections and democracy in 1994
Healed through Truth and Reconciliation Commission
But still captured through capital and exploitations
Not yet Uhuru for Mzanzi
So says a citizen
Some call her a rainbow nation
Because Mzanzi is diverse and a colouful motherland
But still divided by racism and tribalism
Others say Mzanzi is Azania
Because is home to Azanians
RSA our Republic
Mzanzi wethu!
A land full of wounds and hurts
Yet rich with opportunities, history and minerals
Poor or rich
Mzanzi is ours
Not yet Uhuru for Mzanzi
By Mashabela K.N
53
THE BEGINNING AND THE END
When life begins, death could be next
When birth arises, the end is future mortality
Indeed the beginning becomes the evil-end
Or the end become the beginning
Expiry date turns into birth and being of the new
Or birth becomes the major cause of death and mortality
Children are conceived and aborted
Miscarriage become cause of demise
That is the end of innocent lives and godsend to earth
Life of today and tomorrow is bizarre
People regret for carrying lives to earth
Yet, the bible says no to abortion and carnage,
But edges people to conceive and multiply
So says the bible
If pregnancy is the results of sex and love,
Indeed the end can justify the means
Abortion is the result of what?
Why kill to end life than love to preserve?
Why hate to give life than kill and abort?
The end or the beginning is your select
What is your choice?
Abortion or life
Yes, birth or death
Mashabela KN
54
Tribute to Mama Winnie
‘Amandla!’
Hear me the world!
Listen to what I have to say!
Mama Winnie is gone
Paragon of brain and beauty is late
Mother of the nation is no more
A soul adored by many if not all has fallen
Gone too soon yet least expected
Life said no, but demise said now is my time
Our hearts and heads said no,
But God her creator said yes, your time is now.
Mama Winnie was iconic yet humble to ordinary masses
She was indeed a vanity and beauty of a nation troubled by colonialism and racism
It must have been a coincident,
That her name was Winnie and indeed she was a winner
She won love over hate
She won humanity and humility over humiliation
And won patriotism over apartheid
Mama Winnie was a valiant woman:
She took the mighty Apartheid by its horns,
Soldiers and policeman were scared and afraid of her courage,
She was tortured, but never tarnished,
Crucified, but never crushed
Forcefully relocated many times, but still remained resolute,
Displaced many times, but never discouraged
Well, in and out of prison she survived
Mama Winnie was a judicious woman.
She said political freedom alone is not enough,
Some said she was being extremists
Now we all realize she was right,
Yet we don’t tell her she was not a radical but visionary
She was a true product of the masses
When it was fashionable to move or leave Soweto
She choose to stay with masses of her people
55
Soweto was and still her home
Indeed Mama Winnie was wise and wide:
Mathematically speaking, Ten PHDs in one
She warned Zuma and Mbeki not to fight and divide ANC,
She warned ANC never to eat its children (the Malemanists),
She was confined and compromised, but never confused
She was sidelines, but never submerged or surrendered
Mama Winnie is gone.
Mother of the nation is late,
Her suffering ceased to exist,
Her problems too ceased to exist
Her legendary time is gone too soon to be forgotten.
Indeed the Royal Highness ‘Nomsamo’ has departed
We love you MAMA.
We will miss your wisdom,
We will remember your loyalty and love for your people,
We will miss your honesty
We will remember your legendary resilience
Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela-Mandela
Mother of the nation
Her legacy lives on in all of us
BY MASHABELA NICHOLAS
56
emocracy
Some call you mobocracy
Yes, because you are government of the mob and masses
Others say you are egalitarian organism
For your children are equality and fraternity
Yet you can be a demon or craziness at times
Because of crime, cruelty and corruption
And when presidents become con artists,
You become a democrazy
It is incumbent upon me to tell and untell
The results shall justify the acts
Democracy can be Kakistocracy to some
Government that lead through poverty and illiteracy
Yet some are aristocrat rule of the people
All they do is to divide and rule
Indeed Democracy is never alike to all
To some is good and to others a monster
Democracy can be good when we are equal
Yet evil and violable when misused
United in our diversity
‘Rainbow nation’ remains a myth
Story of Mzanzi
Freedom is key to doors of democracy
Equality and unity the other keys
DEMOCRACY we need you
By Mashabela KN
D
57
Raped
Rainy season became the awful days of rape
It all started with acquitted hugs and kisses on the hand and forehead,
The next was innocent touches of greeting on the bums and breast of the victim to be,
Later force was used to lead her/him to bed, the result was rape,
Evidence was the screaming and scratches of the victim
Yet none dare to stand witness to such
Rape was committed
Good times swiftly became painful nights of crime
A full-sized man with luck and pluck has raped
His manhood was wet with semen of violent and voracity
Body of the victim became crime-scene itself
For a rape has occurred in the dark nights of a rainy season
All these was done for nothing but sexual pleasure or nirvana
The good day of a rainy season suddenly became awful nights of violence and rape
Guilt and cruelty were written all over the face of the perpetrator
The gorgeous face of the victim was full of rhetoric questions and self-blame
This was enough evidence for an arrest to be made
But nothing indeed has happened
Why, because no one wanted to bear witness to such.
Silence in the mist of injustice amount to crime
Indeed rape and molestation are the twin thieves of charity and purity
They stole virginity and dignity of the youth and victims of violence
The lame justification for rape became innocent miniskirts and flirts of victims
The painful results of rape are self-blame and children born out of wedlock
A veiled monster stole dignity of many if not all
Who else it to blame than perpetrators of rape themselves?
Their action causes cacophony in the home of the mighty Deity
No empathy from parents, teachers, lawyers and politicians
Dignity and virginity of children are gone
All because of rape
By Mashabela KN
58
I say I am
It is sad to see how often we forget to be real
I am who I am
I am soft, emotional and great
I am who I am
Because I am me
I might be poor here and there
But surely rich with knowledge I say I am
I might be uncertificated as you say I am
But with wisdom and knowledge I say I am certificated too
For knowledge cometh from learning
Indeed wisdom cometh from knowledge
Why yearn for a berry never meant for you?
While apple is ready for you to eat
What is it you want?
Be real: truth and success shall find you.
Naked, simple I am who I am
Wait, what is the push to be something you are not?
Indeed, what is the use to be the opposite of who you are?
Trying to please and pacify everyone you meet
What is the use to force to be who you are not?
When you can simply be who you are
To those who said I am rubbish
I say I am lavish and lovely
To those who said I am boring and dull
I say am the best and better alone
Because I am me
I follow my own path,
59
I am who I am
You are who you are
I say I am me
Be yourself too
So we can be real and truthful
In words of being I’ve spoken
Mashabela KN
60
Life goes on
Yes it does!
Through steps of wins and slips
Or bad and good
Life still goes on
Many dreams are experience and realised
Yet some are deferred,
Promises are made
Yet some are broken,
Mistakes are also made,
Yet some are unmade
That is life my friend
I say, ‘tell him and her’
Life isn’t a ‘sui generic’,
Not unique to all I say
People live to learn
Through gains and errors
Or victories and omissions
People still learn to live
Promises are validation
Yet there is no guarantee for wins
Life goes on my friend
Life is a ladder
By Mashabela KN
61
Pimped souls
Story of lost children
It began during dark days of drugging and substance abuse
Pimps where pushers and bouncers
Clients associate in crime
They took our sisters into dark streets and dodgy flats in town
Money and drugs were exchanged for sex and celibacy
Promises were to make them cool and rich
Ironically pimps were not rich themselves,
But poor and needy like captives
Theirs is to lure & hook our sisters with money and drugs
Yet the end is perfidy, addiction and alienation
Hope was to make money and get rich
Hoping that the end would justify the means
Tomorrow they insult them as bitches or sluts
Aim is to destroy their souls
Knowing very well that they would have no way to go
If they know, our sisters would quit
Families would be enemies and enemies become friends
Shame and guilt will lead them into isolation and life of being high
Drugs and alcohol will be their friends,
And pimps would have won the race over their souls
The end is to forget family and real friends,
And lean in the hands of pimps and clients
Or be friends of drugs and alcohol
Just to relieve their pains and problems
And remain midnight stirrings of prostitution
Or maybe ladies of the night forever
Captured by pimps, sex and drugs
If only they know, our sisters would run
Run from life of sex, alcohol and drugs
If opportunity arises to run, use any means to quit,
And leave the end to justify the means
62
Our sister are forced and trapped into prostitution and pornography
Pimps are to blame for ills of our society
Nation controlled through sex and drugs
The future hangs in the balance
Our sisters are pimped and used
Maybe men had failed to protect women and girls
Captured by kings or pimps of the night
Clients and pushers of prostitution
Pimped, pimped and pimped!!
Lost children are crying
By Mashabela KN
63
oung and naïve
I can vividly remember that good morning I was born free
Without baggage and luggage
Without doubts and debts
Without worries and mistakes
Without fears and faults
An innocent life was brought to earth
No one would have anticipated what I came to be today
My father was delighted to see his seed coming to life
I can picture my mother dropping tears of joy for delivering a healthy boy to life
Doctorsnurses were joyful of the fact that they helped to bring new life to earth
Yet later I turned my back to my path and family
I stole and stoned
I roped and raped
I was young and naive
As I grow older I thought I would mature
But instead I’ve become more juvenile and naive
Peer pressure roped me of my youth and progress
I started to do things of the old when I was supposed to enjoy my youth
I smoked, stole and smashed what wasn’t really mine
Now old but still doing the things I missed
I became the opposite of what I was meant to be
I forgot to be young and joyful
Or to be true to myself
I turned by back on my age
Y
64
I turned my back on my culture
Turned my back on my religion
Turned my back on my family
I never know what I was doing
I was juvenile and immature
Young and naïve
No one can blame me
For I was young and naïve
Now I know
Mashabela KN
65
I need no reason to love
I love you inevitably and naturally
I love you without reason
Why do I need a reason to love?
I love you this way because I love you
I love you without knowing why.
Yet I know how to love you and when
I love you this way because I don’t know any other way
Why do I need a reason to love you?
When loving you is all I know
I love you here and there
Now and forever
Because I love you
Why do I need a reason to love?
I love you this much because you mean so much to me
I love you this way because I don’t have any other way to love
I need no diamond ring or marriage to love you
Love for me comes naturally
In good and bad
Day and night
On land or in ocean
I still love
Let me dedicate my life to you
My heart knows nobody, but you
My future is with nobody, but you
I am you and you are me
No one needs a reason to love
“For love comes naturally to human heart”
Fake-Love forced is forged
For real love comes naturally to human heart
No reason to love you I says by Mashabela KN
66
Homage to Madiba
Shhhhhh!
Listen to me the world!
Take note of what I have to say!
Madiba is gone
Sign of brain and bravery is late
His legacy lives on
Father of the nation is no more
A soul adored by many if not all has fallen
Gone too soon yet least expected
Life said no,
Fate of demise said now is my time
Our hearts and heads said no,
But God the creator said yes, your time is now Madiba
Mandela was iconic yet humble to ordinary masses
He was vanity of a nation troubled by colonialism and racism
It must have been a coincident
That he married Winnie, and indeed he was a winner
He won love and forgiveness over hate and anger
He won humanity and humility over humiliation
Or won patriotism over apartheid
Madiba was a valiant man:
He took the mighty Apartheid by its horns,
Soldiers and policeman were scared and afraid of his courage,
He was tortured, but never tarnished, that was Madiba for you
He was hated, but chose to love
Forcefully relocated many times, but still remained resolute,
Displaced many times, but never discouraged
In prison he survived, outside he was loved
Madiba was judicious:
He said political freedom alone is not enough, but forgiveness and peace
Some said he was being a traitor,
Now we all realize he was right,
Yet we don’t tell he was not a defector but a defender
He was a true product of change
67
When it was fashionable to fight or hate
He chose forgiveness, peace and democracy
That was Madiba for you
A tall man who remained down to earth
Mandela was wise and wide:
Zillion PHDs in one
He was confined and compromised, but never confused
He was sidelines, but never submerged or surrendered
Mandela is gone.
Father of the nation is late,
His suffering ceased to exist,
His problems too ceased to exist
His legendary time is gone too soon to be forgotten.
Indeed the Royal Highness ‘Rolihlahla’ has departed
We love you TATA.
We miss your wisdom,
We remember your loyalty and love for your people,
We miss your honesty and leadership
We remember your legendary resilience
Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela
Your legacy lives on
Father of the nation
Amandla!
BY MASHABELA NICHOLAS
68
A place called home
Life in the street
Hard and hurtful
I feel like hermit
I’m a loner but never alone here
Everywhere I go looking for food and shelter I see danger
Or feel and see struggle of vagrancy and famine
On the streets of many cities human’s life is delicate
Fragile like a balloon full of hot air
Life of a street dweller
With no papa or mama to rest on,
We eat garbage not by will but all were coerced
Poverty has forced us to live like animals
Street life is full of hunger and hunters
We’re all hungry people hunting for better life
Children have no knowledge of decency
But learn to kill and steal
Life of a street dweller
Little kids growing up without fathers, mothers and fortune
They eat garbage in dustbins and sleep under bridges
That is life of residing in the streets
Hustling is a life of a street dweller
No one is here to save us
We learn to live
Sex, theft and drugs are ways of surviving the danger and hunger
We are orphans parented by street life of danger and hunger
Some says we are homeless
Yet we have our homes in the street.
A place we call home
Streets of violence and hardships
This is our home
Mashabela KN
69
………………SPEAK……………
Pedi people say:
‘ngwana a sa llego o hwela tharing’
‘Buwa re ho duetse’
‘People die in silence’
Yet speaking remain a free healing indeed
And free treatment to stress is to talk and speak out
Indeed speaking is liberating
Or efficient healing is to speak
Speak your mind, speak
Through the name of your mighty god, speak
Through memory of Biko, you speak
Through love and peace of Madiba we must all speak
Silence in the mist of injustice amounts to crime, speak
Speak Truth to powers that be, speak
I speak my mind, speak
I speak black power, speak
I speak white power, speak
Speak your fears out, speak
Speak your emotions out, speak
Speak your problems out, speak
I speak like a man you are, speak
Speak like woman you are, speak
I speak what I like, speak
I speak truth, speak
If I can speak, so can you
Speaking is fun and lovely
Speaking is liberating
Speaking is free healing
Speak
Talk it out
‘Khuluma sizwe’
Speak louder because we need order BY Mashabela KN
70
SUGAR DIABETES
Illness whose aim is to end time
It comes into our lives uninvited and unexpectedly
Through genes and veins
Sit permanently in our bodies
Wearing a colourless identity of blindness and pain
Blood is polluted with unknown chemicals
The next we can’t see or walk
He doesn’t care if we are rich or poor
Young or old
Or big in size or small
He takes without wait and infamy
He picks beautiful flowers in the gardens of life,
Then destroys and flushes them like dung
Eats the flesh of the victims like parasite
Or coerce ‘sdudlas’ into gyms or exercise
Even when they don’t want
One is forced into gym for fitness
Some are forced vegetarians
Because diabetes has spoken
No one need to question
No laughter for victims
Not in my present
Do you care? I ask
Enemy of the nation
Illness whose aim is to disable and kill organisms of God
Or take lives of mothers, fathers and siblings
Shame on you Sugar diabetes
By Mashabela KN
71
Dangerous world of poverty
As I travel the world,
Moving from Japan in the far East,
To Alaska in the west
Or from Antarctic continent in the south,
To icy Norwegian city of Oslo in the north
I traveled the world
Migrating from one place to the next like nomads
All I see is danger and inequalities
Or hunger mixed with anger
I can't image but feel the pain
Yes, I can't lie but lay the rules
For the world need order
Others say I'm angry because of hunger
But I know is because of danger
The world need protection
Or freedom from poverty and inequalities
Hunger is the cause of danger
If one is to fight danger
One needs to defeat hunger
Angry people are always hungry yes
But the world needs order and protection
For those angry are justified
Love and unity are keys
To close doors of poverty or hunger
To open doors of prosperity or harmony,
To end dangerous world of poverty,
One need love and unity
This may sound older,
Because is order
72
Celebrating the Birth of a baby boy
A dream of human race was always to give birth to a baby boy,
To shine and guide the world
Indeed a baby boy was born,
Welcomed with a Puja by Hindus,
The end is Bhajan of joy in the name of the gods,
The next is Om written all over the face of the new born
And a bright blaze made of special ghee to celebrate
This we know a baby boy was born
Ululations and poetic hymns are recited to inform the public and gods
Animals are slaughtered to celebrate
That a baby boy was born
Some speak of eternity and others death
Yes, a baby boy is given a name
Generally a religious name is preference
But to others is heretically a family name given to new baby born
Some call him David or Mohammed
Others name him after their parents
Yes, a cultural way to name a new baby boy is followed
Well, Hana-matsuri is made to celebrate the birth of a baby boy
Christmas for the birth of a baby boy Jesus
Gurpurb celebrated for the birth of Guru Nanak
Khoisan Drance dance is to celebrate
Zulus make fire of Unpepho to inform the gods
All this is done for the birth of a baby boy
For a bright moon has come to lit and shine the earth
His name is Mohammed or Jesus
A baby boy was born
We celebrate
Mashabela KN
73
TEARS FOR A FRIEND
I lost a friend!
Please console me.
I literally mourn to celebrate your life
The best of the best,
My dear friend,
Cream de la cream in life and in death,
My dear comrade
Tears for her I shall drop
My companion my comforter,
My crime and creamy partner I love
I frankly mourn the loss of a dear friend,
A pivotal associate so many want to befriend
Why did you live me in limbo? I ask
My last and best friend I had!
Gone too soon to be forgotten my friend
While you are gone I'm incomplete
I believed in our lives and friendship.
Can't we change our destinies?
So we can die together like Romeo and Juliet
Your love for me was priceless like a family secret
And your exertion to me was enough testimony for a true friendship
Because you are the best friend in my life and in my time
I vividly remember our friendship
I miss you my dear friend
I love you my dear comrade
I wish you were here alive
I know you are here with me
To compliment me and comfort
To be a friend I need and long
I love you my friend
By Mashabela KN
74
,,,,,,,,,,,,,Depressed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I never knew what it is.
I've been avoiding it yes,
I've been hiding from it indeed
I took pain killers but it never went away
I thought it's not serious,
I thought it was not for me but for others
I repressed it when I was supposed to address it
But now depression is killing me and us all
I need no medicine but a friend
I just need someone to listen to me, I guess!
Someone to lend me their ear and eyes
I need someone to console and comfort me.
I'm trying to fight it alone but it's hard
Just like a tiny lion trying to fight a bull elephant,
I took my chances
Now I’ve been thinking strange!
To end life by committing suicide,
But realized why God created me then
I closed doors of help and friendships
I kept quiet while supposed to talk
I kept distance instead of mingling
Suicidal thoughts kept inviting me,
I held my head up and said no.
I'm sick but not ready to die.
Now I say i need a friend,
To make me feel loved and needed.
The suicidal thought keeps coming back I confess.
Inviting me to take an innocent life to the end
I just wish I had a friend,
I have a depression and its okay
But I need a friend to understand
I am depressed
We are all depressed
75
LET US LOVE EACH OTHER AGAIN
Do you remember our promises?
Agreeing to show-off our love for each other,
In a marriage of love rather than convenient or material,
We promised to love and protect each other like whales.
To swim in the ocean of likes and love
We agreed to join forever until death says no more
Or love each other like Romeo and Juliet
You caring for me and I caring for you
We were each other’s hand bags
Together constantly like twins
We were by each other day and night
Now you speak of divorce or separation
I thought you were my love for life
My one and only
How can you turn and want separation or divorce?
When you promised to love me forever!
What about the children we created in love?
How evil and cruel would we do this to our children?
Our families depend on us together in marriage
They say our breakup breaks them too,
Yes, our love binds them together
Remember our love for each other!
Let’s not make each other miserable enemies
Let’s not turn water into blood
Or love into hate
Let’s love each other again
MASHABLA KN
76
LET ME SLEEP DURING THE DAY
Everyday many men and women wakeup in the morning
To go to work or look for piece jobs in town
I shall be asleep
Let me sleep during the day
Like owls I hunt my prays at night
When people are asleep
I wake up to steal their things
I am a night predator hunting without a light
At night I shall be alive and slightly alight with a torch
For fire forces me to fire my gun
Let me sleep during the day
To give people opportunity to work,
So I can steal later during the night
When some goes to school
I will sleep like a lion waiting for a pray
For, I know I need energy to steal their books and pens at night to trade
I am a night trader
Yes, I exchange goods for money whilst others are asleep
During the day I shall be asleep
Let me wait for the night
So I can work or walk alone and free
Free of people, police and light
I shall steal
Let me sleep during the day
By Mashabela KN
77
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,DEAR WIFE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Your beauty is so rare to find but I did
Thy smile is so real and remembereble
Your love is so red, rosy and real
And you are so prevalent in my life
Domineering like a lioness of the jungle Amazon
You are so smart for a rural lady married to a rural boy
Dear sweetheart
Your respect sticks into my memory like 1,2,3
Thy life surrounds mine like a secular in rectangular
Your love in my heart and in life is perpendicular,
But still I can't measure it with a ruler
I will love you infinitely like numbers,
I will buy a calculator,
Yes, not for maths but to count thy days and mine in marriage
I will buy a phone just for us to communicate
Or I will build a house for us to art together
And I will study you like a course of mathematics
Coz I like to know you like a whole digit
So I can get my certificate
Dear beautiful partner
With thy gorgeous self,
And thy charming eyes
I shall give you ten over ten for your beauty
Yet in this collage of marriage called love
I need your presence not pretense,
or else i will disappear or dropout
Dear friend
I will never sell-out our love to sidekicks for sex
I will fight for it with respect and honour
I will respect and honour you with decency
I shall love you forever my dear wife
This is not a promise but a commitment
Dear wife
You are liked and protected,
You are respected
And you are love @by Mashabela KN
78
WHILE SITED ON MY FAVOURITE KOPPIE (KILIMA)
I said to myself:
This is my favorite place!
Let me look down the mountain valley!
Well, let me listen to nature’s music
As I sit there I heard young women crying,
It was a cry of help against rape,
I sit and looked out, the perpetrator was a man
I hear another women crying, it was her husband bitter biting her with a belt
I heard bells of jealousy and love for power
A women was misused and mistreated
I wonder why some women would kill or abandon their kids for abusive boyfriends!
Is this the end of humanity?
Let me look down, I said
While looking, I heard cries of society for peace and love
I see civil wars, tribalism and xenophobic riots all down to the mountain valley
It was miasma of plasma on my motherland Africa
As I look further down the valley of my favorite koppie
I saw hunger and anger of my people fuming like a wild fire
Corruption and injustice were to be blamed
While sited on that koppie I truly like
I saw homeless persons fighting for a dustbin
“I was the first to see it, this bread is mine, this bread is mine”, they argued
It was jerry and John
My neighbours who run away from home
Not because they hated it
But coz there was no peace and food
As if that was not enough
I see degrading parliament and arrogant leaders fighting for positions
Others labouring and exploiting my people
I see homes without water or electricity
Many were unemployed
Grants where granted to buy their vote
I say, enough is enough
By Mashabela KN
79
MEKHUKHUNG
A noisy domicile of the poor
Tremendously populated
‘Urban cities of tomorrow’
Far from lights, malls and roads
High with crimes, poverty and unemployment
With parentless children on the streets looking for money
Every corner is full of boys playing games or gambling
Young girls are looking for blessers to slay for money
Life in “Mekhukhung” is hard
A place called home to many and more
With no means to fight the cold-winters than to sex
And no plan to kill hunger than to hustle and steal
Yes, no means to fight frustration than to drink and drug
Life in the squatter camps is hard and harsh
Dry as a desert, and rough as a sand
But future is certain
There is hope in God
Danger of living in the squatter camps
Situated near a mine dump
Or placed near a river tide
A place where gunshot is a norm
Children are raped or molested daily without arrests
A place where children go to school without shoes
Where life is literally hard like a rock
Forgotten by politicians
But remembers by elections
Mekhukhung
By Mashabela KN
80
An African child speaks
What happen to our land?
Does it exist?
Like the mighty mountain Kilima in Tanzania.
Or the great Nile river in the north
Who has the right to or control over our continent?
Does it belong to anybody?
Settlers or natives!
Maybe not,
Africa for Africans!
Or maybe Africa belongs to all who live in it.
What happen to our land Africa?
Does Africa belong to all or what?
Or it’s still captured?
What happen to our land Africa?
Where are the resources?
The gold barrels of Gold Coast in Ghana,
The precious diamond stones of Kimberly in Mzanzi.
The sacred manuscripts of great Sankore varsity in Mali
The oil vats of Lagos in Nigeria
Or the pharaoh gold objects in Egypt
What happened?
Where are they?
I speak to all peole of the world
By Mashabela KN
81
CRIES OF THE PEOPLE
As they cried, they asked:
Who do we trust?
When all are corrupt,
And all are vicious animals waiting to lure or loot.
Who do we trust? They asked!
When our trustees want to trig us,
Or coerce us into signing contracts we don't need or understand.
These are cries from my people!
Who do we trust? They ask!
When our brothers rape us,
And our fathers pimp us.
Hooked into prostitution and drugs
Who do we trust? They asked!
When our leaders mislead us,
And our ministers misuse us.
Who do we trust? They ask!
When our partners kill us for materials and distrust
Let us cry tears of blood and pain,
Experienced through Xenophobia
Or through self-hate called Afrophobia
Why suicide wars and conflicts in Africa?
Our people drink waters of violence.
Confusion reigns supreme,
Peace resigns from Africa
Deception eaten and swallowed,
Yah, taken from plates of false brotherhood
What is the point of calling each other brothers,
When all we do is hate and kill each other as Africans.
Who do we trust? They ask!
When the rivers of unity are so empty in all of us.
Politicians have become professors.
Yes, masters of lies and deception,
Always fighting against truth and honesty
Preachers have become pretenders,
Yes, masters of miracles than gospel.
Who do we trust? They ask!
Are we blinded by songs and rhetoric talk of struggle?
While others are struggling and working,
Some are crapping and looting the riches of the land
Leaving orphans and commoners lost and hungry
Capitalists and communists are fighting for hegemony
War of the elites and privileged
Ordinary people are forgotten
Who do we trust? They ask!
Let us cry loudly and audibly.
These are cries of the people! By Mashabela KN
82
Why i write?
Listen!
I don't know if I'm right like Mr right
For writing my verse
I'm inking my thoughts.
I write what inhibit my mind not to win a price but a pride
I write for no likes or claps but love for my work
I write not to conform but to inform and confirm
To free my lost soul and yours,
I pens my words down not for money but for you and me,
Not for fame but favour to the misinformed
I write my opinions
I write knowledge poetry
To feed, teach and give facts to children of the lord
"Ke ngwala pono"
I am writing my dream"
I write for nobody but me and you
I write what I like
With the hope that my poems will change the world,
I walk my talk in trance of writing.
I write
Tête-à-tête
I write my emotions
And my motions
I move like a chameleon,
Or tortoise and camel maybe
Yet I always reach my goals
I protrude against all odds
Because I do what I love
I write my poems
If not a hobby, then writing is my habit
By Mashabela KN
83
TERMINOLOGY
Inker –refers to person who uses ink (either physically or digitally) to create things. A
writer is an inker
Inking- means writing
Talk-it-out- is to uncover your fears and challenges. To speak out about our problems
Quatrain therapy- a musical or rhythmical healing produced by sound of nice
literature words
Wish poem- is called “Theto tumo” by Pedi people, and is a poem that reflects hope or
wish or desire to achieve something.
Doom Sayers (DSs)- refers to people who are always negative towards other people.
Those who are always focused on the doom side of life. These people always speak
death, failure or negativity in general.
Dêjâvu- a feeling of already having experience the present situation
Kakistocracy- A government under control of the poor and illiterate citizen
Mobocracy- A government or rule of the masses/mob
Aristocracy- A government that rule over a divided or class society
Sui-generic-means uniqueness or the same
Pimp- A person who own or control prostitutes
Vie and vile- means fight and hate
Mine-out- to produce or discover something
In-camera- in closed doors/ in secret
Charisma- gift of attraction and charm
Zeal- passion
Ipso jure= Latin phrase meaning through operation of the law.
Reason d’être- reason to exist
Magnum opus= Latin phrase for masterpiece or art of great creation
Recite- to perform a poem
Cacophony- disharmony or conflicts
Odium and miasma- Hatred and clouds
Poetry
that
smalls
ink,
Poetry
Ink
is
a
book
made
of
ink
and
great
ideas.

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POETRY INK final (book).pdf

  • 1. Poetry Ink A poetic penetration on current affairs Written by Mashabela K.N
  • 2. Copyright & Publication details Poetry Ink: A poetic penetration on current affairs by Nicholas Kgalagadishe Mashabela Copyright © 2018 Mashabela K.N & DeShaba Media All right Reserved ISBN- 978-0-620-78181-7 Email: mashabelakn@gmail.com : mashabelekn@yahoo.com Cell: 0723884440/ 0742420124 Editing and Proofreading by: M.H. Makgaretsa Cover design by DeShaba Media Text typed by Deshaba Media www.deshabamedia.com Printed and bounded by DPS Printers www.dps123.co.za All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by means of (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal or civil prosecution.
  • 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication I Pages Author’s notes ii Acknowledgements iv Introduction v 1. Me being a WRITER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 2. POVERTY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2 3. POWERS OF MONEY ……………..………………………………………………………………………………………….…… 3 4. LOVE IS A THING ……………………….………………………………………………………………………………............ 4 5. MIND……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 6. Face the music…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 6 7. RESPECT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…… 7 8. WAR…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 8 9. CORRUPTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 9 10. Life is a Time………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 11. KEEP GOING!.......................................................................................................................................... 11 12. Happy people………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12 13. Unhappy people………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13 14. AFRICA………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 15. Mandela a Hero………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 16. Biko a Hero………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16 17. The role of religion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17 18. I WRITE.................................................................................................................................................. 18 19. Gold diggers………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 20. PEER PRESSURE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20 21. Satan………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 21 22.HUMILITY………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………......... 22 23. Wisdom…………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….………... 23 24. Dream deferred………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 24 25. Stolen souls…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………… 25 26. Guilt……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………… 26 27. Passion for Success……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... 27 28. Dreams are for Dreamers……………………………………………………………………………………………..….. 28 29. Blame game ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29 30. Let me talk to death……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30 31. Aptitude wealth………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 31 32. Now I regret …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 32 33. Unsung hero’s cry…………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 33 34. WE ARE WRITERS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 34 35. CONQUERED PEOPLE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 35 36. Lost identity………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 36
  • 4. 37. Fame game…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………. 37 38. Give me one more round……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38 39. Who am I?............................................................................................................................................. 39 40. MISPLACED………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….…….. 40 41. I am a teacher………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………….. 41 42. Aluta continua………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….. 42 43. Why Sidekick?....................................................................................................................................... 43 44. Two wards that define God & good: ……………………………………………………………….…………………. 44 45. Death is reality…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….. 45 46. The evil voices of the Doom Sayers…………………………………………………………………………………… 46 47. LET ME IN……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 47 48. Corrupt leaders………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………. 48 49. I wish I can be…………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………. 49 50. A country with two faces …………………………………………………………………………………………….…….. 50 51. Undecided…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 51 52. Mzanzi ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 52 53. THE BEGINNING AND THE END……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53 54. Tribute to Mama Winnie…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……. 54 55. Democracy……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56 56. Raped ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 57 57. I say I am………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 58 58. Life goes on………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………. 60 59. Pimped…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 61 60. Young and naïve…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 63 61. No reason to love………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 65 62. Homage to Madiba ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 66 63. A place called home……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 68 64. Speak…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 69 65. Sugar diabetes………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 70 66. Dangerous world of poverty………………………………………………………………………………………………… 71 67. Celebrating the birth of a baby boy…………………………………………………………………………………….. 72 68. TEARS FOR A FRIEND……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 73 69. Depressed……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 74 70. Let’s love each other again…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 75 71. Let me sleep during the day…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 76 72. DEAR WIFE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 77 73. Sited on my favourite koppie………………………………………………………………………………………………. 78 74. Mekhukhung………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 79 75. An African speaks…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 80 76. Cries of the people……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 81 77. Why I write?........................................................................................................................................... 82
  • 5.
  • 6. i DEDICATION will like to dedicate this book to my late great grandfather, Mphage Mashabela, who was a real custodian of our clan “Ba-Madimong” of Mashabela in Lethole. It’s through his vision and sacrifices that the family continue to stand still. Those who lived during his time often described him as a “no-nonsense person”. They say “he was an embodiment, paragon or epitome of hard-work and love for progress”. Those who knew him say “he hated laziness”. Although his legacy is priceless, it’s through this book that I wish to pay him a tribute for his contributions and sacrifices to the development and unity of our clan. The first year of me being a published author marked a defining moment for me and my family’s future, and for this reason, I thought I should write something in memory of my late grandfather who deserve endless praises. Kind Regards Kgalagadishe Nicholas Mashabela I
  • 7. ii AUTHOR’S NOTES: rocess of composing or writing poetry can be a very durable and tiring at times, yet so harmonious and therapeutically liberating. Writing is a great opportunity for people like you and I to talk-it-out and also share our creative ideas with the rest of the world (to make expressions). Poetry writing is ancient, yet remains a dynamic and transforming space for writer like poets to creatively ink or write own emotions and experiences. Even after writers stop writing, their work continues to live and penetrates the wounded hearts/heads of many readers across the world. Writing books like this one is always a great step towards documenting and publishing own and other people’s ideas into a world of tangible art. I respect the fact that many books have been written to educate society, and with that in mind, I also believe this book will too help to do the same, to educate in an outlook of creativity. Poetry is something that we do not because we wish to appear clever amongst our people, but merely because we want to satisfy our burning desire to change the world for a better tomorrow. Those who said “falling into poetry is like falling in love” where right, because indeed poetry writing is like love-making in a bedroom full of pens and computers. For me, writing started as a hobby until it changed into an affable habit. Well, wards can be products of our biros or computer keyboards, but are mostly produced by people’s thoughts. This means that people’s thoughts or ideas are greater sources of this art of words known to many as literature. “Poetry Writing” is a permanent opportunity to ink such thoughts. Just as Steve Biko said “I write what I like”, we also write what we like. We write down our dreams, fears and hopes because we are freedom writers. We shall keep on speaking, singing and writing what we like so that we can document and publish the thought of great minds gone, present and still coming. Maybe those who said “if you cannot write your vision down, you are in earnest” were right, well, we are freedom writers. Yes, we do this because we are P
  • 8. iii students of Stokely Charmicheal, Steve Biko, Ezekia Mphahlele, Harry Mashabela and many more of our legends writers who remain voices of reason, or indeed have shared reason d’être with us. Nonetheless, it will never get easy for poets to compose or write poetry because poetry always evolves and arises with new needs (challenges) for creativity and efforts. Poetry consumers’ high appetite for good poetry often pushes poets to go extra mile in everything they do. Poets are expected to use words in ways that will display creativity and also mine-out interest or excitement from the readers. The beauty about poetry is that, like music, it sometimes gives people a therapeutic element of phraseology sound (so called quatrain therapy). Think of a time when you needed to see a psychologist/shrink to talk-out your challenges or problems, and suddenly reading poetry becomes a good substitute for your needed therapy. Poetry helps many people, particularly poetry authors and readers to deal with emotional trials. Writing gives me great pleasure, and at times it gives me goosebumps as I release good feeling hormones. Poetry can also give poets a great opportunity to showcase their God given talents or views. It’s through platforms like art of poetry that many of our heroes like Nelson Mandela may best be praised or be remembered. To us, writing is a life obligation or maybe a life itself. The most fundamental responsibility facing us (Authors of today) is to work harder than ever to further enlighten our people with knowledge of daily sorrows and joys of living. My friend Jacob Dikobo killed it when he said: “writer must write until their words conquer a world of readers across the globe”, and he was right. These are the recompenses you get from writing or reading poetry. I hope this poetry book can help to transform the world to a point of no return, but to success. Kind Regards Mashabela K.N (The Poetic-Junkie)
  • 9. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS would love to acknowledge all people who have made direct or interact contribution to this book: More especially my wife, Mohube Hazel Mashabela, whose inputs are truly priceless and countless. It is true that behind every story of a successful man, there is a great woman who makes countless assistance to such success story. Her seeds of support and encouragement have made a positive and tangible influence to the success of this book of wisdom. Thank you “Modipadi a Ngwatomosadi a Modipadi”. By ipso jure (operation of law), I belong to my publisher and therefore I mustn’t forget to thank the DESHABA MEDIA’s publication team for having supported me to produce this magnum opus creation. Deshaba Media is really a company that supports its authors as it did with me. I
  • 10. v INTRODUCTION t is true that life is filled with difficult situations and dynamic episodes, yet so much thrilling and moving like a movie. Sometimes life loves to throw curved balls at us, but we still learn to kick it that way. Even though sometimes one may feel like life is paved with crushes, headaches and heartaches, certainly you would agree with me that life is also a great opportunity for us to experience a lot of positive & negative things that many people before us couldn’t experience; nonetheless, we need not to stop looking for new experiences and ways of preserving what we know or have learned through history. It’s therefore central that we document these experiences (knowledge), even if it means using poetry writing to ink and preserve this wealth of knowledge, so be it. Yes, from politics, corruption, love and all other social issues, this book will engage them in the most artistic or poetic manner that none of us can ever imagine, but certainly we will all enjoy. Many at times, people have been employing different methods to preserve and documents knowledge, but very few have done so through poetry: However, in recent times, poetry has reclaimed its place as the oldest form of literature. Writers have a standing obligation to safeguard the experiences of all their people. We don’t need an army or money to discharge this obligation: all we need is heart, ink and action. This book will most probably fulfill the responsibility that modern poetry has inherited from the old and the oldest. Yes, we are freely inking the thoughts and experiences of our fellows, as Biko said, we are free writers because “we write what we like”. We are using the power of words to change the world for better. Arts of wording such as music/poetry epitomize the power of influence and attraction: the words we use and how we use them determine the fate of their massage. For example, when we use positive words, we attract positive things, and certainly when we use negative words I
  • 11. vi we will attract negativity. When building hegemony: politicians often use art of word to confuse and convince people, that is politics. When making art, musicians also use words to create a musical massage that change people’s lives. Poets also use the power of words to send powerful massages to the world. We use medium of poetry to draw attention of the world to incongruity of corruption, prejudice and of disunity among others. Our words of advice to young authors out there are: know that words are powerful, and therefore, use them wisely. For me, “I am prepared to be hated for being a serial writer of truths than being loved for publishing half-naked pictures of myself using drugs or alcohol on social media just for likes and followings,” said Mashabela. According to him, “poets are creators or life actors, poetry a life, and writing poetry a living. We should never stop writing, because if we do, we would’ve stopped living or experimenting” Kind regards: Deshaba Media
  • 12. 1 Me being a WRITER I say to people! Hey you! Be warned, This is my time to shine, Time has arrived for me to ink To write my beautiful dreams alone Dreams to drive me delighted and tickled This is writing for me, yes, me alone Writing is my excuse to be alone than along To deal with emotional trials and tribulations of life, Yes, trajectories of life, bareness or loneliness Indeed writing can be tiring and addictive process, Yet to me is a way to escape destructive habits (Drinking and drugging) I will rather draw than drink or drug, Rather devise than be a trend follower, Rather compose than complain, Rather be a creator than competitor Yes, be a builder than a bully Or plan to build than blame Rather be aloof than amid Yes, write than wine Or move than mourn Me being a writer I feel emancipated I chose to write To Ink my views “I write what I like” Those were Biko’s words I chose to ink my thoughts I am a habitual writer A freedom poet of late By Mashabela KN
  • 13. 2 POVERTY Poverty scarcity poverty paucity Indeed you are nothing but enemy of the people Some are angry, Others are hungry Dreams are deferred. All because of you poverty. Hopes are gone Families are fading Fathers aren’t working Children are hungry Crime goes high All because of destitution People are starving No jobs for graduates Uncles and aunts no job Frustration the order of the day Crime and prostitution goes high All because of poverty Bread price is high Papas become sugar-daddies Mothers sugar-mammies Hunger has arrived Children are vulnerable People are angry All because of poverty Emotions are high People want change Change of government Change in their lives All because of poverty By Mashabela K.N
  • 14. 3 POWERS OF MONEY If you don’t know! Money is power Power to effect change “Love of Money is the root of all evils” So says the bible, God Jehovah has spoken If used righteously and valuably Money can be a vigor, force of change If used wrongfully, it can destroy Money is power, pillar of change If not respected, money destruct If used properly, money can build Money also a seed God’s seed for the earth to shine For those who don’t know Money can be a devil Only when misused It can too be a blessing Only when is valued Money a power A force of change Indeed money is power By Mashabela K.N
  • 15. 4 Let me write a poem about love: LOVE IS! What is love? Contrary to popular believe Love is an action Yet a doing word Actually, Love is a thing Yet a tangible dynamic thing Indeed Love is what we do to other, Yes, is blind and patient, It doesn’t look for wrongs, but right It cares to give and protect What is done in love is done well Love heals the wounds of rejection and hate Love grows, but also dies When it dies, know it is time to go To find another living love Yes, good living love rather than bad and dead Love lives and die Indeed Love is a living thing, but not eternal res Like a tree, it grows and dies It surely needs nutrients and fertilizers like a seed Give more love to yourself So as to love your neighbors more Without love you are nothing ‘Love all if you can’ So says the bible Jehovah has spoken By Mashabela KN
  • 16. 5 MIND Who would mind to tell me what is mind? Mind is wealth! Mind your mind God given treasure is mind, Mind-spot a hotspot of thoughts Mind a great asset for life, It doesn’t sleep or slumber That is the nature of mind Mind is a creator of created, That is the power of mind Be mindful of people’s mentality, All things comes from mind alone Who has the power to create than Mind? Now I am ideologist or materialist maybe God’s gift for humans is mind, power in our lives is mind All things start with thoughts in our mind Baby a product of mind Now I am writing a poem Writing start with mind Creation is mentality Now I’m a creator I created a book Mind is a source Source of ideas and creation is mind Mind your Mind By Mashabela K.N
  • 17. 6 WHY SHALL I TRUST THEE? While standing on pulpits of lies, Thee promised citizens heaven and earth And to provide good life to our people Instead they bought us t-shirts of slogans and holy waters And promising to build RDPs for citizens Or to give grants to poor children of the land of the lord They care for us only during eras of elections for parties or personalities To them, we are nothing but voting machines If they want, they drive us to elections to vote Or speak promises they never keep But no, they turned out to be false prophets And tell me why shall i trust thee my people? When those that ought to stand for us are all mischievous and misleading Leaders have become con artists. Let us stand for ourselves, Let us vote them out of office or politics for good Corruption and selfishness flows through their veins. My people, why shall I trust thee? Tell me why shall I not compere thee to Satan? Let us fight our battle against corruption and poverty Yes, is better to trust in self that to others Take your arms we are going to war Unite against corruption and poverty Evils whose aim is to destroy society Thee promised us progress but gave us poverty Thee promised us comfort but gave us corruption Tell me why shall I trust thee? By Mashabela KN
  • 18. 7 MY AFRICAN QUEEN I’m remembering the first time seeing her Yah Neh. I was charmed One word that defined her was to say a STAR 'She is a rare breed,' I thought Yes, she's a Tsarina suited for an African king like me. I am a Tsar of brain & ink, and her, of brain & beauty. 'Together we can make magic', I assumed! Her skin colour is so smooth like fresh milk from my father’s favourite cow. She's got a body of an angel Queen Cleopatra the goddess beauty is nothing to her gorgeousness. Oh! Your majesty the attractive Tsarina! You're the most shining STAR to lit my family You are sweet as a watermelon from my mother's farm If I were Romeo I would promise to die for you And if I were Tutankhamen I would give you raw gold Oh my queen, I love you eternally Many women want to be you And many men want to be with you I guess But you are taken my Queen Your lovely smile portrays a positive omen of fortune and success. Your beauty is a breeze or a flame of life My love for you is like fish's love for water When the Angels see you they salute with envy, They began to ask each other, "but why" Why is there a more beautiful angel than us? They ask She is so cute like a model angel. Her beauty shines forth from her characteristics. Her behavior is second to none. Her character defines her reactions to life So lovely, so simple and so caring is her nature. She is beautiful yet humble to the ordinary And I love her coz she's always mellow like melon Ways of her life is always amazing to follow. Her identical curves gives her confidence. She cleans her teeth white like a restaurant glass Her lips are natural like strawberry. Her eyes are as attractive as an ocean waves. A kiss from her takes me to a place called Dizziness Island Her smile is capable of making men's hearts dance like M Jackson. She's the most mannered girl among all. She's perfect like a perfectionist Her touch makes me dizzy like drugs of sexualization. I can say she's one of the rarest ladies I've came to know She is a prayer warrior fighting for all Yes, she prays like Mohammad Jesus is her role model in spirituality She is capable of loving or to be loved Yah, she is so charming like Mr-right Coz she is Mrs-Right, a Queen of life My African Queen By Mashabela KN
  • 19. 8 WAR Fighting can’t stop fighting History has taught us this. War is war Make love clearly not war So says the youth of 1970s Make money not in the war, but out of it I say Indeed young people have spoken Make love and peace for warmongers War is for war-makers or warmongers, Cause they are aggressive You are a peacemaker, yours is to make harmony War vs peace, who is the winner? Peacemakers create cease-fire, Warmongers make fire Cease-firers vs Fire-makers Who is a victor? War must end. Now or never War destroys people, families and nations War must end, dark or blue War is like a cancer, it eat without shame War destroys economies It must end, not even dare to start War has caused a lot of problems in the Universe, But has not solved one yet. Now is time for peace By Mashabela KN
  • 20. 9 CORRUPTION In a cacophonic society Some call it “collusion” Others say ‘maladministration’ Yet corruption is corruption Nothing but a criminal activity We think it’s normal but it is not We do it without share or shame, but it’s not fair or fame at all We do it at night, but it wakes-up in the morning We do it in-camera, but it comes out on camera We think no one sees us, but the world is looking We think we are smart, but actually we are outwitted and imprudent Otherwise not wise enough for life Corruption is a disease which affects all people Call it white monopoly capital, Or black monopoly corruption We are all infected and affected by it It is a known-secret that most of us paid or will pay bribes to traffic officials Job for money or sex is corruption That is petty but pure corruption Some think they are less corrupt because they do trivial bribes or payoffs But, reality says we are all corrupt Corruption is the devil of today He has no heart at all He takes without giving In the open he depict himself as good and Godly In the dark he becomes a sinner and blood-drinker His name is Corruption because he is cruel and criminal By Mashabela KN
  • 21. 10 Life is a Time What is life? They asked Shhhh! I’ve forgotten Some think is a movie Cause it makes bad or good episodes, Others think it is a journey Coz it shows pathways, Humps and pothole Bad or good Life is time Some says life is what you make it to be, But life is unique for all of us Yet dynamic and alive When you die, there is no life Some say life is a time Yes, life is a moment We all refer to our lives as “during his time or her time”. Everything lived or will leave its time We will too live and leave-out our time (Die) Since I have no time here, my life is gone. That is life, because life is time It has seasons and moments We all live and leave our time Mine is now Tomorrow I am gone Life is Time! No more will you see me. Time will be gone By Mashabela KN
  • 22. 11 KEEP GOING! Before I acknowledged my knowledge of truth, They said “I am a failure”, Some saying “I am a pain to my parents”, Said “I am a shame to my community” And a wet blanket to a country full of opportunities I wanted to believe them as it where But, I know I was better than that now and then I use to listen to them and their venomous words Eavesdropped to them trying to destroy innocent soul of a boy Sometimes I will go bananas due to their evil words Confusion became my friend due to their words And all I could feel was pain and miscarriage of hope in my heart, But my head said NO. You are not a failure, but a fortune for a future I listened to my head, and started building my future I said I will keep going, going and going for my life Until I see my beautiful dreams of prosperity Dreams of a better future an victory I shall keep going I said! This is for me to do Keep going I say! By Mashabela KN
  • 23. 12 Happy people Confidence is their nature Happiness is their security Peace is their ammunition to live Pirates is their team to support They are always at ease with life Freedom is their Friend They are victors of their situation Success is their formula in life Motion is their program Happy people. Accept defeat and tease Innocence is their inner peace Sadness is their enemy Happy people Always hype and higher Alone and working What they need is none, but joy Happy people. They need nobody, But peace By Mashabela K.N
  • 24. 13 Unhappy people Too dense to dance to a trance dance of life Self-insecurity is their nature Sadness is their security Anger is their ammunition They live in despair Swallows is their team Depression is their friend They are victims of their situations Failure is their formula Emotions is their motion Self-pity people Blame-game is their attitudes Guild is their guider and game Happiness is their enemy Self-pity people All they feel is miasma Always low and dry Alone and helpless What they need is love and empowerment Self-pity people They need encouragements and love Unhappy people By Mashabela K.N
  • 25. 14 FRICA Africa my home Africa my motherland Land of milk and gold Land of peace and power ‘Africa my beginning Africa my ending Cape to Cairo Madagascar to Morocco’ Mzanzi to Tunisia Some call you Azania Others says Al-Kebulan To me you are a mother Home to my history Past, present and future Africa my home I love Africa By Mashabela K.N A
  • 26. 15 andela a Hero Son of a chief Royal by blood Champion by default Leader by legacy African by origin Whether you like it or not Mandela was a hero Some says a trader My conscious says no Mandela was a hero A man of charisma Zealous man of influence Mandela a hero A voice of reason A pillar of strength A tree of life A tree of peace A tree of freedom A tree of unity All in the good name of democracy Emancipation for his people Mzanzi wethu Truly speaking, Mandela was a light A light of love and hope Whether you agree or no By Mashabela Mandela was your hero M
  • 27. 16 Biko is a Hero A victor by default A leader by legacy African by origin Whether you like it or not Steve Biko was your hero Some says unrealistic My conscious says no Biko was my hero A tree of knowledge A Dean of African pride A tree of freedom for Azanians A believer in African unity All in the good name of Black consciousness Emancipation for his people Azanians and Africans Steve Biko was a light A light of knowledge and hope Whether you agree or no Biko is your hero By Mashabela
  • 28. 17 The role of religion Aim is to create order, Healing for the sick Just like schooling Teachers are preachers Students are congregants Bible-Torah- Quran are books Indeed Preachers are teachers They teach and preach Followers are pupils They follow and learn Aim is to learn the word of God Without school, there is no future Without religion, there is no order All would be chaos Religion is a guardian Protector of the people Role of religion Amity and Order Role of religion By Mashabela K.N
  • 29. 18 I WRITE How do you write? They asked I know why & what I write Yet I don't know how I write Only my pen and ink could explain Cuz my computer keyboard was plain and blocked I pens down all times my pain and points I drop emotional lines like droplets of rainfall But I'm not lame like lunatics I whisper rhymes of love and life via poetry They thought I'm chanting a magic of insanity Yet I was locked up in a psychiatric game of writing my poems My hands have lost their magic torch yesterday But I’m not a loser but a learner ready to go I soldiered on I'm a poetic junkie with a mission to inspire the universe I'm a bishop of my own religion to ink or write My pencil shall stand witness to my ink My paper could play witness to my pen Coz I'm not a witness but a writer Tell this to a parent I need no more food and cloths but pens and papers I'm perfectly okay with writing my poems Dear mothers and fathers Please stop leading me but listen to my words I'm a writer not a chancer I am a creator not a follower I write my rights I write right and light I write the truth By Mashabela KN
  • 30. 19 old diggers Look!! Everybody jobbing is a gold digger Miner a digger! Prostitute a digger! Hustler a digger! All looking for golden money Brothers no sleep, Sisters no sleep All digging for Gold in Gauteng-Maboneng Girls are digging for Gold day and night Prostitution is the name of the movie Fathers and mothers no sleep All digging for gold in Pretoria-Mahlangeng Brothers looking for jobs and Joy All in the name of hustling Yet it creates vie and drama Crime is the name of the film Uncles and aunts no sleep All digging for Gold in Brits-Maburung Faming is the name of the action All in the name of quest for money Many if not men are gold diggers Looking for money and Gold By Mashabela K.N. G
  • 31. 20 EER PRESSURE Unable to make a choice There I was! Pure and innocent Until they came, Friends of doom and dump They said come, I said no They said you are not cool but cold I know they were wrong But peer pressure said be cool and chic They took me under their arms I was forced to make a choice I smoked, stole and raped I thought I was cool and adored I thought they liked me, but I was wrong They doomed and dumped me in hell Here I am, talking to you from Jail Now I am free from peers of woe Friends of doom Groups of glum Peer Pressure I run Run from you while in jail Now I’m alone, aloof and alert. Ready for peer pressure By Mashabela K.N P
  • 32. 21 Satan Devil is a nickname Evil we describe his acts Subject of reticule Criminal by default That is Satan or imp We all fear him Though we never saw Not even at night Satan lives and lures us Evil and harm are his friends He never sleeps or adores Indeed a friend of witches Target to blame and error Even when innocent Satan is blamed Cursed forever by God Time and time Satan is to blame By Mashabela K.N
  • 33. 22 I AM CORRUPT, AND I KNOW IT We leaders have become con artists!! Let me steal today and no more Let me steal this money It is crime I know My supporters said they will protect their leader I rejected cleanness and honesty Like a drug addict I got tempted to pinch I rejected advises and rules of the office I chose to corrupt and get corrupted My fans and supporters kept supporting their leader Thinking I was innocent and clean like Tutu They build a wall of fences for my offences Couldn’t argue with my critics Yet he who questions my ways was killed or purged Corruption is my way to wealth “He’s corrupt but a governor of our nation,” they said "He's the leader of our troubled country" He who dares to crisis my ways is shown a way I do my crimes best at best moments in time Behold, I can't mess with my supporters But I can mesmerize my critics That's what makes me an extraordinary politician If I speak VIVA or amandla to comrades, Standing on a pulpit of lies Yes, I can win the world Or play victims of political conspiracy This to avoid prison and law If I want, I can blame capitalism and others for my crimes Doubt me not, oh citizens! I'm resourceful, vicious kind and giving Yet at times I can be cruel and a criminal My supporters know me better than you. I am corrupt and I know it, But they support me still I am your leader By Mashabela KN
  • 34. 23 WISDOM Priceless like life Wisdom my value Key to success and eternity Knowledge is that key Opens doors for people to help you Wisdom teaches and tells It guides us to give, so as to receive Wisdom my value, wisdom my wealth Love more it says, we need people to succeed ‘No man is an island’ A wise man has said Respect for money, a financial wisdom Loving people or things, principle for humanity Fear your God, principle for life Respect parents, luck will follow Reject wrong, right is yours Learn to live Wisdom will follow That is wisdom By Mashabela K.N
  • 35. 24 Dream deferred Unity a dream Africa’s dream is dead A dream deferred and dropped Lost in direction and by direction Nkrumah’s dream is dead OAU has changed to AU a name Turn of events, Nkrumah to Mbeki Change of tune, Azania’s dream is dead United Africa a dream deferred and late Gadhafi now dead, Mugabe’s dream is dead All are dead, Mbeki is called and gone Direction lost, Cape to Cairo no more a dream Talk is cheap, now is time Time to unite Africa Africa our land Unite! By Mashabela K.N
  • 36. 25 Stolen souls Stolen indeed I say Souls of youth are gone Stolen yet too young for death Future is gone too soon because of drugs and alcohol Purity is gone too soon because of Sex and substance Sister’s life is cheap, brother’s life is taken Nyaope a thief, Alcohol & Sex associates in crime Addiction is the name of the game. All these for what? Rhetorically I ask: all these for what? Addicted to drugs tomorrow a slave to Nyaope Addicted to money tomorrow a slave to Prostitution Addicted to sex tomorrow a slave to pornography Rhetorically I ask: all these for what? Endorphin is the rewards Three enemies of men and women; drugs, sex and money, Evils whose aim is to steal and ends lives. Captured are young boys and girls Future is gone too soon because of money and drugs All conquered by three things Friends of evil and doom Alcohol, drugs and sex Captured indeed I say Souls of youth Stolen Mashabela K.N
  • 37. 26 Guilt Guilt. Guilt like fear, Has to be conquered Meditation is the answer Talk to someone about it Guilt a friend of fear and hate All destructors of the inner peace It takes and end people’s freedom. Guilt a silent killer of all our dreams Free yourself from guilt and fear Learn to let go of guilt and hate Forgiveness is the right weapon Forgive to release the pain you feel Redeem yourself from it I say All is not lost or last Guilt an enemy of Mine and Yours too Guilt must be conquered By Mashabela K.N
  • 38. 27 Passion for Success Look! Passion is a hunger Passion is purposeful Drive of victory for mission Passion + purpose = prosperity A duty to live forever for our dreams All you need is passion for your vision With passion, impossible is possible Without a passion your vision is dead Passion for people = prosperity Passion is a fuel for a mission Passion is profitable Advice is to start Start with a passion! It has to start with a question Are you hungry for something? If you do, that is your passion! I end not to submit, but to submerge By Mashabela K.N
  • 39. 28 Dreams are for Dreamers Dreamers’ trance for life To dream is to live Without dreams life is a myth All we do is try and tremble Tremble trying than dream no more Successful dreamer works on their dreams While the opposite works in their dreams If you are a do-dreamer like Mandela: Work on your dreams When you do you shall triumph Dreamers must have missions to achieves visions Real visionaries are dreamers who are doers Success to them is certain and doable Dreamer’s dream is to dream While doers work on their dreams, Dreamers daydream to receive Manna from heaven. Indeed dreams are for dreamers So says a dreamer who do By Mashabela K.N
  • 40. 29 Blame game Blame it on apartheid Blame it on parents All I know you are at fault Blame it on witches Blame it on government All I know you are wrong Plenty of blames we do Never learn to own-up to our mistakes Call this a weakness But hypocrisy is reality When you know you are wrong Own up to your wrongs You said you are not corrupt Yet you pay bribes to traffic officers All in the good name of freedom Freedom to corrupt or be corrupted Later you blame someone for you deeds Blame it on traffic officers But all I know you are corrupt Blame game you play A game everybody does Why, I ask? By Mashabela K.N
  • 41. 30 LET ME TALK TO DEATH Hello Death! How are you? The creator of darkness and sorrow Today I am talking to you face to face You are a frizzy fuzzy of the dazzling fury You took my parents, siblings and my friends You fuddled my world as if you own it Now it's time to converse with you Even though I am scared of you I've come to face thy ugly face Tell me why you stole my people. Nothing is as persistent as you in life The first time I came in contact with you, It was during a car accident I survived Where I saw your ugly head and eyes of darkness You scared me and left trauma and anxiety Post two weeks of that I lost my uncle Thinking it was a curse, but there you were I was afraid of your actions Scared of darkness and sorrow you brought Every plan I had has gone array All because of you I was freezing about frigidity of my life until now. Now I'm strong willing to fight Or ready to die for what I believe like Madiba Defending life of thy human I am standing tall above thy death Before death I shall live and conquer thy world with my ink As for you death, I shall be ready Sure, this is not a threat but a promise My God is my rock and a solid protector of my time You are but a mere failed autocrat I have come to tell you this frankly I am armed and ready waiting for you death Walk away while you still can Or die trying like Alexander the great Death, I am talking to you By Mashabela KN
  • 42. 31 Aptitude wealth Also called IQ Intelligent is a gift Wealth of emotional intelligence Psychologists must use it to diagnose people’s emotions Wealth of Physical intelligence Athletes must have it to run the rounds Wealth of Arithmetic intelligence Mathematicians must use it to innovate Wealth of Social intelligence Politicians must have it to influence society Wealth of Communiqué intelligence Gift for salespersons and marketers Wealth of Fiscal intelligence Economists must have it Wealth of Tech intelligence Technicians must have it Wealth of Artistic intelligence Artists shows it all times Wealth of Scientific intelligence Scientists must have it for innovation Beneficiaries of nine intelligences I end to not to divest, but to breathe By Mashabela K.N
  • 43. 32 Now I regret Celibacy is purity Pride for the kids Nobody but children Pure Virginity for youth Aimed to protect me and you Celibacy is purity for safety Stolen by the Sugar daddies and mamas Elders know what they are doing or saying. They have eaten the fruit of Eden They said never start or test Curiosity said no. I did not listen for a moment Alcohol to cigarettes were there Sex, money and drugs said come! To feel the test of being high and sexy Now I’m addicted to junk and junkie-status They said abstain for a course I said no and tested it Yes it was painful Yet pleasurable I felt Now purity is gone The end is regrets Addiction is regretted By Mashabela K.N
  • 44. 33 Unsung hero’s cry They forgot us!! You and I forgotten! No song for our contributions All they honour are leaders Sing nice praises for elites Praises and remembers the presidents Sing the songs of love for Prime ministers All they applause are king and heads of state Yet they forget us unsung heroes Why no song for follower? Deputy Presidents are forgotten Policemen no song and Soldiers are forgotten Teachers no song Social workers no praise Nurses forgotten All songs for doctors and donors No praises for queens No song for ordinary citizens Why I ask? By Mashabela K.N
  • 45. 34 WE ARE WRITERS Hey! Turn to this side Look what WE achieved WE ARE WRITERS Helpers who happen to write We can't help all but those in need We're the voice of the voiceless yes, Or reminders of the forgotten masses. We're the hope of the hopeless. The helpers of the helpless indeed, We are who we are We're emancipators of the captured Children of the lord We are here to write and help We won't disappear like the sun at noon, But be like the morning sun that shines the world like Jesus and Mohammed Not to be misunderstood For, we are day dreamers who dare to help and emancipate Maybe we won't mourn the darkness of the night like the day. Or fear drought like the fishes and plants of the river valley of the Nile When the night fears the daylight, We (the days) cry that the night is far away from us. Even if the time of our lives is forgotten, We hope the lives of our time will live forever May poetry never faints like king Monada. We who write may be gone, But our ink will forever live We may be gone yes But the footprints of our pen remain Our good ways will remain with us forever. We write for peace We write love We are writers By Mashabela K.N
  • 46. 35 CONQUERED PEOPLE We were alone Together as Africans Until they came, through rivers and ocean We thought they were visitors But we were wrong, Plan was to colonize They changed our languages Gave us cloths and western things Ours thrown away Took us to school All in the good name of civilization Aim was to indoctrinate and influence Took our possessions Also our land, not by will Force was used Africans were defeated All were conquered Africa a colony Colony for westerners By Mashabela K.N
  • 47. 36 Lost identity Stuck in a wrong skin Story of lost identity Black outside but white in He wanted to be the opposite, But contrary was reality He thought he was white, But indeed he was black He thought he was a woman But indeed he was man He thought he was a khoisan But indeed he was a coloured A wonderer in his own skin All looking for was identity A sense of belonging for self Now lost and wasted Wasted time for affection Affirmably he was confused All this for lost identity He though was better than us Some call him a coconut Many says a gay Others say a lost soul Indeed he was lost By Mashabela K.N
  • 48. 37 Fame game All looking for fame and fashion Prominence is the name of the game Be famous and fabulous All in the fine game of fame Musicians are playing it Fake it until you make it Poetic fame is my favorite Famous yet not fashionable Loaned by those who love Despised by those who vie and vile Artist to politicians looking for it All in the good name of the game Women and men looking for it Fame is the name of the game Some tell me I am not yet poetic enough for fame Or that my poems are less rhyming for the game But I know I have a massage to tell By Mashabela K.N
  • 49. 38 GIVE ME ONE MORE ROUND Hey partner! Touch my body, Take away my undies, Keep me on your chest And make me your play ball. Let us go to bed to play a drama of love Or sleep and swim in the ocean of love Making love in peace and on bed Give me one more round I ask Why can't we do more rounds? And satisfy each other like lovers do Doing it fast with a joyful pace As you climb to me with passion and movement of love. Why don't you give me one more round? Never get tired of giving your passion in love Give me one more round I beg Give me styles that are too joyful to ignore I will encourage you with hymn and quivers of pleasure And sounds that are too loud to forget I will thank you later I promise Oh! You’re too attractive to avoid. Only two rounds I shall be full I want to drink your libido cup tea Don't be stingy in giving rounds Let the poison of your snake bites my cake. Please give me one more round It's only in love that I can be satisfied When you give rounds give two or more I will be ok So I can be satisfied Damn! Your one round doesn't fulfill my hunger Hello, feed me with erotic styles and rounds of love-making Add sounds of romantic cries too, Don't be a robot but a romantic Handle me well and make me beg for more Give me one more rounds I ask Then I'll forever love you my love Show me love I shall be satisfied Give me one more rounds By mashabela KN
  • 50. 39 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THANKS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 'Unkulungulu' 'Modimo' Allow me to say one word or two To say thank you for this day You gave me time in life Of physique and spiritual grounding. And of mental and economic growth Untie me from the pilgrim ship of self-doubt and fear And die my feet and hands with a string of courage. Unearth me from hate, hunger and anger But place me in what we know to be true In a place of love, peace and happiness While we harvest the blossoms of love and happiness Or fetching assonance of life Of each time and moment you gave us And taste the flavour of your fruits tree Love, peace and happiness We need to thank you Let me employ my sweetened words And say thanks once more. Before I spun in a miasma of death and decay, I shall say thanks again for life By Mashabela Nicholas
  • 51. 40 MISPLACED Have you ever felt like you don’t belong where you are? Truly misplaced There and then misplaced Working yet still unhappy Misplaced indeed I said That was how I felt then and there my friend, Never now I say It all started there and then my comrade In a place called work I guess Yes, all I felt was sadness It was work to them but not I Indeed I was working but still unhappy Never happy with the work I do or doing then Never happy going to work, but pleased to come back home to write I guess I was absorbed in a work never meant for me Surely until one changed career and defeated inapt Indeed change is demanding and painful to do, Yet liberating I pronounce Some said I was lost, but me thought misplace For fear of failing I was scared to change Now here I am placed where I belong This place I can call home I feel no work but joy Not like there and then Indeed I was misplaced Now I’m happy and placed where I love In a place called home Placed were I enjoy Not misplaced By Mashabela K.N
  • 52. 41 I am a teacher I made it all Some said I am of no use Others says I have no dollar, but bank-drought With me knowing money isn’t everything I say I am a teacher Yes, I know I have no money but value So says a teacher The truth is clear Architect made a skyscraper Engineer a motor-car Yes, scientist made scientific discoveries But a teacher made all of them Indeed that is reality of life Nothing but truth Some said teacher’s time is gone Others gossip that teaching has no honour All because of money and materials Forgetting that teaching is a noble profession Indeed a mother of all professions So says a teacher I am a creator I made you all By Mashabela K.N
  • 53. 42 Aluta continua Cheating and looting continue Corruption and Riots continues All in the good name of democracy Indeed an anecdote of a failing state Maybe a demo-crazy People are crazy and cruel All in the good name of democracy Criminals now have rights Freedom to steal, kill and rape All in the good name of democracy Azania is gone and wasted What is left is none but anger and hunger Yes, black nation is angry and hungry All emanating from the past Many if not men are waiting to loot and kill They never joined struggle to be poor But to claim and take Truly claim and take what is theirs and others Land question unanswered Struggle certainly must continue All for a revolutionary course of our freedom Mental slavery an enemy Economic inequalities an enemy Yes, people are not free at all So say Steve Biko and Malema Aluta must continue By Mashabela KN
  • 54. 43 Sidekick Hey ‘wena makhwapheng’ Should I call you sidekick? Or a side-chick maybe Be it you are a cheating tool. What do you think you are doing? Indeed you are opportunist Yet a fooled ancillary Now that our relationship is fragile You advance to break in and break it To substitute my love for my partner What you are doing is wrong. You and my partner are both wrong How can you be so selfish? You know it as much as I know Even your name says a lot about you All you are is a side-chick Or side dish Not a home meal They kick you on the side And come back home to me still You are indeed a sidekick Why do you want to come between us? Indeed I ask you ‘Makhwapheng’ Why? By Mashabela K.N
  • 55. 44 Two wards that define God & good Love and peace Indeed love is a reflection of peace You are my love for your peace And therefore my God There is no way to live than to love you You are all I love and need to survive I don’t know what to do without you Indeed there is no me without you Well. If I forget you my love I would’ve misrepresented my heart Down in the end of my being I know you are the reason I write A reason I eat, live and indeed will die for you You are my love, and therefore my peace Without you I have no love or peace With you, indeed there’s life You are many weapons against my enemies Hate and rejection With your God, indeed I’m armed Yes, God is Love and peace You are my love And therefore my peace By Mashabela KN
  • 56. 45 Death is reality It was early in the morning, When death asked life why are you liked by everybody? Life said coz I am beautiful Dead responded, you are a liked lie, and me a painful truth Though we know our fate Knowing that we are all waiting for it Death scares and leaves us trembled Instead of preparing and planning for it We wish to live forever Yet knowing it’s impossible. Let me tell you something!! Death is a reality of life Without death life will be unreal Indeed I and you will die For death is a bride of all families ‘Ukufa umakoti wemizi yonke’ ‘Lehu ke ngwetsi ya malapa kamoka’ Death is reality of life Surely death is a living thing Whether we like it or not Prepared or unprepared Death shall visit us all Don’t forget to live Or plan for your last day Death is waiting for us By Mashabela K.N
  • 57. 46 The evil voices of the Doom Sayers They said I am useless yet harmless and hopeful I was They said nothing good would come out of my life, but here I am They said my life would be over before it even started, but here I’ve started and still going Those were the wicked awful voices of the Doom Sayers Yes, the most dangerous people on the world we live today Their prediction was that my background would determine my foreground, but I refused Their prediction was that a poor boy like me was incapable of achieving success Indeed their voices nearly broke and destroyed an innocent soul of a child, but I survived They are always waiting for us to fail so that they can speak vile and negative about us Yes, the doom Sayers have written me of even when I am still alive Indeed the doom Sayers will turn your progress into grief and sadness If they want, they can proclaim your rainy and sunny season to be nights of darkness and bleakness Gossiping, blackmailing and backstabbing others is their weapons to destroy hopefuls like you and I These are the negative voices of the DSs Their voices always mean to destroy and bury the hopes and aspirations of the hopefuls The voices of the DSs are aloud and always encoring in our ears, but I refused to listen They say I will never see or test success because I am destined for failure Though I know they are present, I never attempt to listen to these evil voices of the DSs Are called Doom Sayers because they speak and see evil or failure where there is none These are the vile and evil voices of the Doom Sayers who I came to call DSs cause they talk doom The most dangerous people in the world we live For those who don’t know, Doom Sayers live with us or amongst us Don’t say I never told you about this, because I did The Doom Sayers are like Holy Spirit They are found anywhere and everywhere at anytime We live with them in our homes, workplaces and everywhere they are there Their work is to despise and disparage any persons who seek to improve their lives The doom Sayers operate through jealousy and negativity Theirs is to destroy and bury hopes and successes of the hopefuls Your success is their pain, and your pain is their success These are the Doom Sayers who prophesize vile and failure The Most dangerous people of the world The Doom Sayers By Mashabela KN
  • 58. 47 LET ME IN Let me be your friend Not your enemy So I can please and appreciate you Or tease you possibly Maybe be your preacher So I can teach and touch you Or be your partner So I can lean or lough with you You ought to learn to live with me Let me in So I can comfort none but you Or console you maybe When you see me like this Know I am your friend Not a chancer But a comrade Yes, I came here not to look for fortune or fame, but for a friend I believe Be my friend So I can love you my friend Or maybe love you to bit Let me give So you can receive Let me in So I can be your friend By Mashabela K.N
  • 59. 48 Corrupt leaders Kingpins of complicity They say you are corrupt Some speak vile and vie about you ‘Rapist’ they call you now and then Some says your time is gone You raped mother justice they say Economically you stole from the poor Yet you see no wrong my leader All these is water to you I guess So says Quma my friend Indeed you’re in a pool of water Yet you claim your innocence like inmate You promised but never delivered Your job is clear and complete Confuse & convince to influence This is your way of life my leader Your politics means confuse to convince ‘Viva’ is your powerful weapon to influence ‘Amandla’ a validation indeed You lie without shame and guilt Or steal without sharing and shame Those are the cries and claims of the people you roped Not my claims I say, but citizens’’ yells and nags Theirs is water to you I suppose. Indeed you are in for a swimming lesson Yet you say you are not wet Certainly you’re hypocrite leader of fame Or a pathological liar of note Those who believe are naïve Yet idiotic and stupid I guess Lie to them but not me Corrupt leader I see you By Mashabela K.N
  • 60. 49 Let me write a wish poem called: I wish I can be If only I can: Yes, I will be jubilant like January, Or fabulous like February so I can face my valentine Maybe be marvelous like March so I can match for human rights Or be awesome like April so I can appeal my judgment I wish I can be meaningful like May Or be joyous like June so I can join July my friend Yes, be jolly like July Maybe be organized like August so I can reach orgasm like organism If only I can I will be sober like September Or be optimistic like October so a can opt for number one position Yes, be normal like November Maybe in December one can be a diviner like King David If only I can be, I would That is my wish To be like month So I can be I wish I can be By Mashabela K.N
  • 61. 50 A state with two faces Love it or not Mzanzi is a rainbow nation Ours is a country full of colours, A beautiful land full of peace and love Yet some see violence and hate All this because of media of odium and miasma State loved by many men around the world Women of the world say Mzansi is cool Yet fake-news paddlers paint a story of a failing state South Africa is said to be a dying nation without hope and honour Yet many feel there is good story to tell Some says Mzanzi’s rainbow nation is a myth Ours is a contradicting tales of two faces land A land deemed to be failing and fading Yet a nation on a developmental mode Some says ‘Mzansi is growing and glowing Yet some speak vice and vile about my country Those are the vile voices of doom sayers Republic of South Africa is my country Mzansi may be corrupt and cruel If corrected it can be adored So say a citizen By Mashabela K.N
  • 62. 51 Undecided Trapped between right and wrong Or between rain and drought Surrounded by many choices and options Adam needs to make a choice Inevitably he burst into tears of confusion But the choice remain static to be discovered God created the earth and man He gave man a responsibility to look after the earth and everything in it God gave man an intelligence to make choices and decision So that they choose between good and evil Or choose between right and wrong But men saw an opportunity to conquer and influence Still torn between right and wrong Men must make a choice Whether one is at a crossroad or not, choice must be made What is it gonna be for you? Wrong or right Indecision remains story of human race. One must decide, Between right or wrong Undecided no more We must make choices By Mashabela KN
  • 63. 52 Mzanzi wethu! From Mosina in the north to Cape Agulhas in the south Limpopo River to Roben-Island A land situation in the far tip of Africa A star-country shinning in the middle of galaxy-wave A country created through blood and sweets Land troubled by colonialism and imperialism A country divided through segregation and separation Yet still captured by mighty apartheid regime itself 1910 is deemed to be the birth year of our country But Azania was way older than that Maybe origin of human kind it is A land compromised through FREEDOM CHARTER and CODESA Or revived though elections and democracy in 1994 Healed through Truth and Reconciliation Commission But still captured through capital and exploitations Not yet Uhuru for Mzanzi So says a citizen Some call her a rainbow nation Because Mzanzi is diverse and a colouful motherland But still divided by racism and tribalism Others say Mzanzi is Azania Because is home to Azanians RSA our Republic Mzanzi wethu! A land full of wounds and hurts Yet rich with opportunities, history and minerals Poor or rich Mzanzi is ours Not yet Uhuru for Mzanzi By Mashabela K.N
  • 64. 53 THE BEGINNING AND THE END When life begins, death could be next When birth arises, the end is future mortality Indeed the beginning becomes the evil-end Or the end become the beginning Expiry date turns into birth and being of the new Or birth becomes the major cause of death and mortality Children are conceived and aborted Miscarriage become cause of demise That is the end of innocent lives and godsend to earth Life of today and tomorrow is bizarre People regret for carrying lives to earth Yet, the bible says no to abortion and carnage, But edges people to conceive and multiply So says the bible If pregnancy is the results of sex and love, Indeed the end can justify the means Abortion is the result of what? Why kill to end life than love to preserve? Why hate to give life than kill and abort? The end or the beginning is your select What is your choice? Abortion or life Yes, birth or death Mashabela KN
  • 65. 54 Tribute to Mama Winnie ‘Amandla!’ Hear me the world! Listen to what I have to say! Mama Winnie is gone Paragon of brain and beauty is late Mother of the nation is no more A soul adored by many if not all has fallen Gone too soon yet least expected Life said no, but demise said now is my time Our hearts and heads said no, But God her creator said yes, your time is now. Mama Winnie was iconic yet humble to ordinary masses She was indeed a vanity and beauty of a nation troubled by colonialism and racism It must have been a coincident, That her name was Winnie and indeed she was a winner She won love over hate She won humanity and humility over humiliation And won patriotism over apartheid Mama Winnie was a valiant woman: She took the mighty Apartheid by its horns, Soldiers and policeman were scared and afraid of her courage, She was tortured, but never tarnished, Crucified, but never crushed Forcefully relocated many times, but still remained resolute, Displaced many times, but never discouraged Well, in and out of prison she survived Mama Winnie was a judicious woman. She said political freedom alone is not enough, Some said she was being extremists Now we all realize she was right, Yet we don’t tell her she was not a radical but visionary She was a true product of the masses When it was fashionable to move or leave Soweto She choose to stay with masses of her people
  • 66. 55 Soweto was and still her home Indeed Mama Winnie was wise and wide: Mathematically speaking, Ten PHDs in one She warned Zuma and Mbeki not to fight and divide ANC, She warned ANC never to eat its children (the Malemanists), She was confined and compromised, but never confused She was sidelines, but never submerged or surrendered Mama Winnie is gone. Mother of the nation is late, Her suffering ceased to exist, Her problems too ceased to exist Her legendary time is gone too soon to be forgotten. Indeed the Royal Highness ‘Nomsamo’ has departed We love you MAMA. We will miss your wisdom, We will remember your loyalty and love for your people, We will miss your honesty We will remember your legendary resilience Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela-Mandela Mother of the nation Her legacy lives on in all of us BY MASHABELA NICHOLAS
  • 67. 56 emocracy Some call you mobocracy Yes, because you are government of the mob and masses Others say you are egalitarian organism For your children are equality and fraternity Yet you can be a demon or craziness at times Because of crime, cruelty and corruption And when presidents become con artists, You become a democrazy It is incumbent upon me to tell and untell The results shall justify the acts Democracy can be Kakistocracy to some Government that lead through poverty and illiteracy Yet some are aristocrat rule of the people All they do is to divide and rule Indeed Democracy is never alike to all To some is good and to others a monster Democracy can be good when we are equal Yet evil and violable when misused United in our diversity ‘Rainbow nation’ remains a myth Story of Mzanzi Freedom is key to doors of democracy Equality and unity the other keys DEMOCRACY we need you By Mashabela KN D
  • 68. 57 Raped Rainy season became the awful days of rape It all started with acquitted hugs and kisses on the hand and forehead, The next was innocent touches of greeting on the bums and breast of the victim to be, Later force was used to lead her/him to bed, the result was rape, Evidence was the screaming and scratches of the victim Yet none dare to stand witness to such Rape was committed Good times swiftly became painful nights of crime A full-sized man with luck and pluck has raped His manhood was wet with semen of violent and voracity Body of the victim became crime-scene itself For a rape has occurred in the dark nights of a rainy season All these was done for nothing but sexual pleasure or nirvana The good day of a rainy season suddenly became awful nights of violence and rape Guilt and cruelty were written all over the face of the perpetrator The gorgeous face of the victim was full of rhetoric questions and self-blame This was enough evidence for an arrest to be made But nothing indeed has happened Why, because no one wanted to bear witness to such. Silence in the mist of injustice amount to crime Indeed rape and molestation are the twin thieves of charity and purity They stole virginity and dignity of the youth and victims of violence The lame justification for rape became innocent miniskirts and flirts of victims The painful results of rape are self-blame and children born out of wedlock A veiled monster stole dignity of many if not all Who else it to blame than perpetrators of rape themselves? Their action causes cacophony in the home of the mighty Deity No empathy from parents, teachers, lawyers and politicians Dignity and virginity of children are gone All because of rape By Mashabela KN
  • 69. 58 I say I am It is sad to see how often we forget to be real I am who I am I am soft, emotional and great I am who I am Because I am me I might be poor here and there But surely rich with knowledge I say I am I might be uncertificated as you say I am But with wisdom and knowledge I say I am certificated too For knowledge cometh from learning Indeed wisdom cometh from knowledge Why yearn for a berry never meant for you? While apple is ready for you to eat What is it you want? Be real: truth and success shall find you. Naked, simple I am who I am Wait, what is the push to be something you are not? Indeed, what is the use to be the opposite of who you are? Trying to please and pacify everyone you meet What is the use to force to be who you are not? When you can simply be who you are To those who said I am rubbish I say I am lavish and lovely To those who said I am boring and dull I say am the best and better alone Because I am me I follow my own path,
  • 70. 59 I am who I am You are who you are I say I am me Be yourself too So we can be real and truthful In words of being I’ve spoken Mashabela KN
  • 71. 60 Life goes on Yes it does! Through steps of wins and slips Or bad and good Life still goes on Many dreams are experience and realised Yet some are deferred, Promises are made Yet some are broken, Mistakes are also made, Yet some are unmade That is life my friend I say, ‘tell him and her’ Life isn’t a ‘sui generic’, Not unique to all I say People live to learn Through gains and errors Or victories and omissions People still learn to live Promises are validation Yet there is no guarantee for wins Life goes on my friend Life is a ladder By Mashabela KN
  • 72. 61 Pimped souls Story of lost children It began during dark days of drugging and substance abuse Pimps where pushers and bouncers Clients associate in crime They took our sisters into dark streets and dodgy flats in town Money and drugs were exchanged for sex and celibacy Promises were to make them cool and rich Ironically pimps were not rich themselves, But poor and needy like captives Theirs is to lure & hook our sisters with money and drugs Yet the end is perfidy, addiction and alienation Hope was to make money and get rich Hoping that the end would justify the means Tomorrow they insult them as bitches or sluts Aim is to destroy their souls Knowing very well that they would have no way to go If they know, our sisters would quit Families would be enemies and enemies become friends Shame and guilt will lead them into isolation and life of being high Drugs and alcohol will be their friends, And pimps would have won the race over their souls The end is to forget family and real friends, And lean in the hands of pimps and clients Or be friends of drugs and alcohol Just to relieve their pains and problems And remain midnight stirrings of prostitution Or maybe ladies of the night forever Captured by pimps, sex and drugs If only they know, our sisters would run Run from life of sex, alcohol and drugs If opportunity arises to run, use any means to quit, And leave the end to justify the means
  • 73. 62 Our sister are forced and trapped into prostitution and pornography Pimps are to blame for ills of our society Nation controlled through sex and drugs The future hangs in the balance Our sisters are pimped and used Maybe men had failed to protect women and girls Captured by kings or pimps of the night Clients and pushers of prostitution Pimped, pimped and pimped!! Lost children are crying By Mashabela KN
  • 74. 63 oung and naïve I can vividly remember that good morning I was born free Without baggage and luggage Without doubts and debts Without worries and mistakes Without fears and faults An innocent life was brought to earth No one would have anticipated what I came to be today My father was delighted to see his seed coming to life I can picture my mother dropping tears of joy for delivering a healthy boy to life Doctorsnurses were joyful of the fact that they helped to bring new life to earth Yet later I turned my back to my path and family I stole and stoned I roped and raped I was young and naive As I grow older I thought I would mature But instead I’ve become more juvenile and naive Peer pressure roped me of my youth and progress I started to do things of the old when I was supposed to enjoy my youth I smoked, stole and smashed what wasn’t really mine Now old but still doing the things I missed I became the opposite of what I was meant to be I forgot to be young and joyful Or to be true to myself I turned by back on my age Y
  • 75. 64 I turned my back on my culture Turned my back on my religion Turned my back on my family I never know what I was doing I was juvenile and immature Young and naïve No one can blame me For I was young and naïve Now I know Mashabela KN
  • 76. 65 I need no reason to love I love you inevitably and naturally I love you without reason Why do I need a reason to love? I love you this way because I love you I love you without knowing why. Yet I know how to love you and when I love you this way because I don’t know any other way Why do I need a reason to love you? When loving you is all I know I love you here and there Now and forever Because I love you Why do I need a reason to love? I love you this much because you mean so much to me I love you this way because I don’t have any other way to love I need no diamond ring or marriage to love you Love for me comes naturally In good and bad Day and night On land or in ocean I still love Let me dedicate my life to you My heart knows nobody, but you My future is with nobody, but you I am you and you are me No one needs a reason to love “For love comes naturally to human heart” Fake-Love forced is forged For real love comes naturally to human heart No reason to love you I says by Mashabela KN
  • 77. 66 Homage to Madiba Shhhhhh! Listen to me the world! Take note of what I have to say! Madiba is gone Sign of brain and bravery is late His legacy lives on Father of the nation is no more A soul adored by many if not all has fallen Gone too soon yet least expected Life said no, Fate of demise said now is my time Our hearts and heads said no, But God the creator said yes, your time is now Madiba Mandela was iconic yet humble to ordinary masses He was vanity of a nation troubled by colonialism and racism It must have been a coincident That he married Winnie, and indeed he was a winner He won love and forgiveness over hate and anger He won humanity and humility over humiliation Or won patriotism over apartheid Madiba was a valiant man: He took the mighty Apartheid by its horns, Soldiers and policeman were scared and afraid of his courage, He was tortured, but never tarnished, that was Madiba for you He was hated, but chose to love Forcefully relocated many times, but still remained resolute, Displaced many times, but never discouraged In prison he survived, outside he was loved Madiba was judicious: He said political freedom alone is not enough, but forgiveness and peace Some said he was being a traitor, Now we all realize he was right, Yet we don’t tell he was not a defector but a defender He was a true product of change
  • 78. 67 When it was fashionable to fight or hate He chose forgiveness, peace and democracy That was Madiba for you A tall man who remained down to earth Mandela was wise and wide: Zillion PHDs in one He was confined and compromised, but never confused He was sidelines, but never submerged or surrendered Mandela is gone. Father of the nation is late, His suffering ceased to exist, His problems too ceased to exist His legendary time is gone too soon to be forgotten. Indeed the Royal Highness ‘Rolihlahla’ has departed We love you TATA. We miss your wisdom, We remember your loyalty and love for your people, We miss your honesty and leadership We remember your legendary resilience Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela Your legacy lives on Father of the nation Amandla! BY MASHABELA NICHOLAS
  • 79. 68 A place called home Life in the street Hard and hurtful I feel like hermit I’m a loner but never alone here Everywhere I go looking for food and shelter I see danger Or feel and see struggle of vagrancy and famine On the streets of many cities human’s life is delicate Fragile like a balloon full of hot air Life of a street dweller With no papa or mama to rest on, We eat garbage not by will but all were coerced Poverty has forced us to live like animals Street life is full of hunger and hunters We’re all hungry people hunting for better life Children have no knowledge of decency But learn to kill and steal Life of a street dweller Little kids growing up without fathers, mothers and fortune They eat garbage in dustbins and sleep under bridges That is life of residing in the streets Hustling is a life of a street dweller No one is here to save us We learn to live Sex, theft and drugs are ways of surviving the danger and hunger We are orphans parented by street life of danger and hunger Some says we are homeless Yet we have our homes in the street. A place we call home Streets of violence and hardships This is our home Mashabela KN
  • 80. 69 ………………SPEAK…………… Pedi people say: ‘ngwana a sa llego o hwela tharing’ ‘Buwa re ho duetse’ ‘People die in silence’ Yet speaking remain a free healing indeed And free treatment to stress is to talk and speak out Indeed speaking is liberating Or efficient healing is to speak Speak your mind, speak Through the name of your mighty god, speak Through memory of Biko, you speak Through love and peace of Madiba we must all speak Silence in the mist of injustice amounts to crime, speak Speak Truth to powers that be, speak I speak my mind, speak I speak black power, speak I speak white power, speak Speak your fears out, speak Speak your emotions out, speak Speak your problems out, speak I speak like a man you are, speak Speak like woman you are, speak I speak what I like, speak I speak truth, speak If I can speak, so can you Speaking is fun and lovely Speaking is liberating Speaking is free healing Speak Talk it out ‘Khuluma sizwe’ Speak louder because we need order BY Mashabela KN
  • 81. 70 SUGAR DIABETES Illness whose aim is to end time It comes into our lives uninvited and unexpectedly Through genes and veins Sit permanently in our bodies Wearing a colourless identity of blindness and pain Blood is polluted with unknown chemicals The next we can’t see or walk He doesn’t care if we are rich or poor Young or old Or big in size or small He takes without wait and infamy He picks beautiful flowers in the gardens of life, Then destroys and flushes them like dung Eats the flesh of the victims like parasite Or coerce ‘sdudlas’ into gyms or exercise Even when they don’t want One is forced into gym for fitness Some are forced vegetarians Because diabetes has spoken No one need to question No laughter for victims Not in my present Do you care? I ask Enemy of the nation Illness whose aim is to disable and kill organisms of God Or take lives of mothers, fathers and siblings Shame on you Sugar diabetes By Mashabela KN
  • 82. 71 Dangerous world of poverty As I travel the world, Moving from Japan in the far East, To Alaska in the west Or from Antarctic continent in the south, To icy Norwegian city of Oslo in the north I traveled the world Migrating from one place to the next like nomads All I see is danger and inequalities Or hunger mixed with anger I can't image but feel the pain Yes, I can't lie but lay the rules For the world need order Others say I'm angry because of hunger But I know is because of danger The world need protection Or freedom from poverty and inequalities Hunger is the cause of danger If one is to fight danger One needs to defeat hunger Angry people are always hungry yes But the world needs order and protection For those angry are justified Love and unity are keys To close doors of poverty or hunger To open doors of prosperity or harmony, To end dangerous world of poverty, One need love and unity This may sound older, Because is order
  • 83. 72 Celebrating the Birth of a baby boy A dream of human race was always to give birth to a baby boy, To shine and guide the world Indeed a baby boy was born, Welcomed with a Puja by Hindus, The end is Bhajan of joy in the name of the gods, The next is Om written all over the face of the new born And a bright blaze made of special ghee to celebrate This we know a baby boy was born Ululations and poetic hymns are recited to inform the public and gods Animals are slaughtered to celebrate That a baby boy was born Some speak of eternity and others death Yes, a baby boy is given a name Generally a religious name is preference But to others is heretically a family name given to new baby born Some call him David or Mohammed Others name him after their parents Yes, a cultural way to name a new baby boy is followed Well, Hana-matsuri is made to celebrate the birth of a baby boy Christmas for the birth of a baby boy Jesus Gurpurb celebrated for the birth of Guru Nanak Khoisan Drance dance is to celebrate Zulus make fire of Unpepho to inform the gods All this is done for the birth of a baby boy For a bright moon has come to lit and shine the earth His name is Mohammed or Jesus A baby boy was born We celebrate Mashabela KN
  • 84. 73 TEARS FOR A FRIEND I lost a friend! Please console me. I literally mourn to celebrate your life The best of the best, My dear friend, Cream de la cream in life and in death, My dear comrade Tears for her I shall drop My companion my comforter, My crime and creamy partner I love I frankly mourn the loss of a dear friend, A pivotal associate so many want to befriend Why did you live me in limbo? I ask My last and best friend I had! Gone too soon to be forgotten my friend While you are gone I'm incomplete I believed in our lives and friendship. Can't we change our destinies? So we can die together like Romeo and Juliet Your love for me was priceless like a family secret And your exertion to me was enough testimony for a true friendship Because you are the best friend in my life and in my time I vividly remember our friendship I miss you my dear friend I love you my dear comrade I wish you were here alive I know you are here with me To compliment me and comfort To be a friend I need and long I love you my friend By Mashabela KN
  • 85. 74 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,Depressed,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I never knew what it is. I've been avoiding it yes, I've been hiding from it indeed I took pain killers but it never went away I thought it's not serious, I thought it was not for me but for others I repressed it when I was supposed to address it But now depression is killing me and us all I need no medicine but a friend I just need someone to listen to me, I guess! Someone to lend me their ear and eyes I need someone to console and comfort me. I'm trying to fight it alone but it's hard Just like a tiny lion trying to fight a bull elephant, I took my chances Now I’ve been thinking strange! To end life by committing suicide, But realized why God created me then I closed doors of help and friendships I kept quiet while supposed to talk I kept distance instead of mingling Suicidal thoughts kept inviting me, I held my head up and said no. I'm sick but not ready to die. Now I say i need a friend, To make me feel loved and needed. The suicidal thought keeps coming back I confess. Inviting me to take an innocent life to the end I just wish I had a friend, I have a depression and its okay But I need a friend to understand I am depressed We are all depressed
  • 86. 75 LET US LOVE EACH OTHER AGAIN Do you remember our promises? Agreeing to show-off our love for each other, In a marriage of love rather than convenient or material, We promised to love and protect each other like whales. To swim in the ocean of likes and love We agreed to join forever until death says no more Or love each other like Romeo and Juliet You caring for me and I caring for you We were each other’s hand bags Together constantly like twins We were by each other day and night Now you speak of divorce or separation I thought you were my love for life My one and only How can you turn and want separation or divorce? When you promised to love me forever! What about the children we created in love? How evil and cruel would we do this to our children? Our families depend on us together in marriage They say our breakup breaks them too, Yes, our love binds them together Remember our love for each other! Let’s not make each other miserable enemies Let’s not turn water into blood Or love into hate Let’s love each other again MASHABLA KN
  • 87. 76 LET ME SLEEP DURING THE DAY Everyday many men and women wakeup in the morning To go to work or look for piece jobs in town I shall be asleep Let me sleep during the day Like owls I hunt my prays at night When people are asleep I wake up to steal their things I am a night predator hunting without a light At night I shall be alive and slightly alight with a torch For fire forces me to fire my gun Let me sleep during the day To give people opportunity to work, So I can steal later during the night When some goes to school I will sleep like a lion waiting for a pray For, I know I need energy to steal their books and pens at night to trade I am a night trader Yes, I exchange goods for money whilst others are asleep During the day I shall be asleep Let me wait for the night So I can work or walk alone and free Free of people, police and light I shall steal Let me sleep during the day By Mashabela KN
  • 88. 77 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,DEAR WIFE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Your beauty is so rare to find but I did Thy smile is so real and remembereble Your love is so red, rosy and real And you are so prevalent in my life Domineering like a lioness of the jungle Amazon You are so smart for a rural lady married to a rural boy Dear sweetheart Your respect sticks into my memory like 1,2,3 Thy life surrounds mine like a secular in rectangular Your love in my heart and in life is perpendicular, But still I can't measure it with a ruler I will love you infinitely like numbers, I will buy a calculator, Yes, not for maths but to count thy days and mine in marriage I will buy a phone just for us to communicate Or I will build a house for us to art together And I will study you like a course of mathematics Coz I like to know you like a whole digit So I can get my certificate Dear beautiful partner With thy gorgeous self, And thy charming eyes I shall give you ten over ten for your beauty Yet in this collage of marriage called love I need your presence not pretense, or else i will disappear or dropout Dear friend I will never sell-out our love to sidekicks for sex I will fight for it with respect and honour I will respect and honour you with decency I shall love you forever my dear wife This is not a promise but a commitment Dear wife You are liked and protected, You are respected And you are love @by Mashabela KN
  • 89. 78 WHILE SITED ON MY FAVOURITE KOPPIE (KILIMA) I said to myself: This is my favorite place! Let me look down the mountain valley! Well, let me listen to nature’s music As I sit there I heard young women crying, It was a cry of help against rape, I sit and looked out, the perpetrator was a man I hear another women crying, it was her husband bitter biting her with a belt I heard bells of jealousy and love for power A women was misused and mistreated I wonder why some women would kill or abandon their kids for abusive boyfriends! Is this the end of humanity? Let me look down, I said While looking, I heard cries of society for peace and love I see civil wars, tribalism and xenophobic riots all down to the mountain valley It was miasma of plasma on my motherland Africa As I look further down the valley of my favorite koppie I saw hunger and anger of my people fuming like a wild fire Corruption and injustice were to be blamed While sited on that koppie I truly like I saw homeless persons fighting for a dustbin “I was the first to see it, this bread is mine, this bread is mine”, they argued It was jerry and John My neighbours who run away from home Not because they hated it But coz there was no peace and food As if that was not enough I see degrading parliament and arrogant leaders fighting for positions Others labouring and exploiting my people I see homes without water or electricity Many were unemployed Grants where granted to buy their vote I say, enough is enough By Mashabela KN
  • 90. 79 MEKHUKHUNG A noisy domicile of the poor Tremendously populated ‘Urban cities of tomorrow’ Far from lights, malls and roads High with crimes, poverty and unemployment With parentless children on the streets looking for money Every corner is full of boys playing games or gambling Young girls are looking for blessers to slay for money Life in “Mekhukhung” is hard A place called home to many and more With no means to fight the cold-winters than to sex And no plan to kill hunger than to hustle and steal Yes, no means to fight frustration than to drink and drug Life in the squatter camps is hard and harsh Dry as a desert, and rough as a sand But future is certain There is hope in God Danger of living in the squatter camps Situated near a mine dump Or placed near a river tide A place where gunshot is a norm Children are raped or molested daily without arrests A place where children go to school without shoes Where life is literally hard like a rock Forgotten by politicians But remembers by elections Mekhukhung By Mashabela KN
  • 91. 80 An African child speaks What happen to our land? Does it exist? Like the mighty mountain Kilima in Tanzania. Or the great Nile river in the north Who has the right to or control over our continent? Does it belong to anybody? Settlers or natives! Maybe not, Africa for Africans! Or maybe Africa belongs to all who live in it. What happen to our land Africa? Does Africa belong to all or what? Or it’s still captured? What happen to our land Africa? Where are the resources? The gold barrels of Gold Coast in Ghana, The precious diamond stones of Kimberly in Mzanzi. The sacred manuscripts of great Sankore varsity in Mali The oil vats of Lagos in Nigeria Or the pharaoh gold objects in Egypt What happened? Where are they? I speak to all peole of the world By Mashabela KN
  • 92. 81 CRIES OF THE PEOPLE As they cried, they asked: Who do we trust? When all are corrupt, And all are vicious animals waiting to lure or loot. Who do we trust? They asked! When our trustees want to trig us, Or coerce us into signing contracts we don't need or understand. These are cries from my people! Who do we trust? They ask! When our brothers rape us, And our fathers pimp us. Hooked into prostitution and drugs Who do we trust? They asked! When our leaders mislead us, And our ministers misuse us. Who do we trust? They ask! When our partners kill us for materials and distrust Let us cry tears of blood and pain, Experienced through Xenophobia Or through self-hate called Afrophobia Why suicide wars and conflicts in Africa? Our people drink waters of violence. Confusion reigns supreme, Peace resigns from Africa Deception eaten and swallowed, Yah, taken from plates of false brotherhood What is the point of calling each other brothers, When all we do is hate and kill each other as Africans. Who do we trust? They ask! When the rivers of unity are so empty in all of us. Politicians have become professors. Yes, masters of lies and deception, Always fighting against truth and honesty Preachers have become pretenders, Yes, masters of miracles than gospel. Who do we trust? They ask! Are we blinded by songs and rhetoric talk of struggle? While others are struggling and working, Some are crapping and looting the riches of the land Leaving orphans and commoners lost and hungry Capitalists and communists are fighting for hegemony War of the elites and privileged Ordinary people are forgotten Who do we trust? They ask! Let us cry loudly and audibly. These are cries of the people! By Mashabela KN
  • 93. 82 Why i write? Listen! I don't know if I'm right like Mr right For writing my verse I'm inking my thoughts. I write what inhibit my mind not to win a price but a pride I write for no likes or claps but love for my work I write not to conform but to inform and confirm To free my lost soul and yours, I pens my words down not for money but for you and me, Not for fame but favour to the misinformed I write my opinions I write knowledge poetry To feed, teach and give facts to children of the lord "Ke ngwala pono" I am writing my dream" I write for nobody but me and you I write what I like With the hope that my poems will change the world, I walk my talk in trance of writing. I write Tête-à-tête I write my emotions And my motions I move like a chameleon, Or tortoise and camel maybe Yet I always reach my goals I protrude against all odds Because I do what I love I write my poems If not a hobby, then writing is my habit By Mashabela KN
  • 94. 83 TERMINOLOGY Inker –refers to person who uses ink (either physically or digitally) to create things. A writer is an inker Inking- means writing Talk-it-out- is to uncover your fears and challenges. To speak out about our problems Quatrain therapy- a musical or rhythmical healing produced by sound of nice literature words Wish poem- is called “Theto tumo” by Pedi people, and is a poem that reflects hope or wish or desire to achieve something. Doom Sayers (DSs)- refers to people who are always negative towards other people. Those who are always focused on the doom side of life. These people always speak death, failure or negativity in general. Dêjâvu- a feeling of already having experience the present situation Kakistocracy- A government under control of the poor and illiterate citizen Mobocracy- A government or rule of the masses/mob Aristocracy- A government that rule over a divided or class society Sui-generic-means uniqueness or the same Pimp- A person who own or control prostitutes Vie and vile- means fight and hate Mine-out- to produce or discover something In-camera- in closed doors/ in secret Charisma- gift of attraction and charm Zeal- passion Ipso jure= Latin phrase meaning through operation of the law. Reason d’être- reason to exist Magnum opus= Latin phrase for masterpiece or art of great creation Recite- to perform a poem Cacophony- disharmony or conflicts Odium and miasma- Hatred and clouds Poetry that smalls ink, Poetry Ink is a book made of ink and great ideas.