Best Kwansaba Poems

In the bush the dancing begins early 
     Leather drums call from far and near. 
          Steady rhythms mark timed steps, and 
         ...

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I gather up all of my courage
My gaze drifts to the evening sky 
All that space there between 
Alien visitation must be a lie 
The sun and moon still shine for us 
Eventually they burn out and die 
Everywhere a sea of murkiness 
With little...

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After a night of rain, the sun,  
its shimmer, a welcome like no other.
A new day starts with such promise,
an array of flora across the pasture
a gazelle leaping all over the place.
The kisses of the rain still visible 
a delight for my eyes to...

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Each morning just before lunch at eleven,
I can see the black smoke rise.
Pops has his large grill fired up.
Chicken and ribs sizzle over the flame.
Just come here to satisfy your hunger.
Pops is not skimpy on his sauce.
The man is the boss for cooking.
...

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Up so high all the fireflies fly
          Look at them! Look at them all!
       Thousands of stars hang in the sky!
   Birds and crickets are chirping in unison
...

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Hey little black girl keep your head up and walk proud the ghetto cant break you 
and the hood cant make you who you are stay storng little black girl keep faith walk 
the walk of proud sisters talk the talk of black queens a...

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bolts of thunder light up the sky
splash of colour visible as rain fall
rain supply its own kind of music
lyrics the trees sway and dance to 
as flowers smile after months of drought
one thing on nature's mind is renewal
it is time to enjoy every facet...

03/05/2011...

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Rhythm develops 
everything
horrid
heavenly thoughts
misery
tones of home vibrate
livelihood exists inside
ambiance waves crash
tear shorelines
sliding through marinas
ships live n' die
by rhythm

high tide
to low the sailor knows
to schoon the great deep sea
respecting nature's violent blessing
the Bind that won't untie
excitement for the divide
all there
inside the rhythmic ride
arithmetic and music
cruising ocean...

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"What's your story?"
she questions,
"you seem interesting."

wildflower eyes
                                      ...

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On Good Friday after church we eat
curried pickled fish and hot crossed buns
and drink black coffee because we share
in the painful agony of the Lord.
On Easter Sunday after church we braai *
meat and drink like fish and rejoice
in the victory over death and grave.

* (rhymes...

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Asked for fresh trout from the menu
Server brought it hot to my plate
Pronto take it away, to my horror
Two vile beady eyes stare at me
And they do not look very pleased
Should have stuck to pasta or soup
Neither would dare to glare back


Posted on February 25,...

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Weeping willow growing outside my office door
blows in the wind like angel wings.
Each wing unfurls as though taking flight
to some haven where there is peace.
And with this peace comes perfect rest.
The kind of rest given by God
as His gentle breeze blows this tree

Kwansaba-  7...

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Haunted house on top of the hill
Scares many kids that sure walk by
Ghouls and ghosts make their display known
Deep inside this hold there’s all sorts
They moan and groan and carry on
Loud enough so many others may hear
They bring life of misery to all

Russell Sivey...

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Can a word be just a tree?
Is a forest any form of poetry?
Where the soil adds imagery of style,
Rains make the flow of each line.
Light the feeling that reader reacts too.
Warmth of summer the deep rich stanzas,
Winters frigid ways the ending of strength....

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Dark skin sweats in a dark night
as around the fire, they drum on.
They drum their pain and their joy.
Red sparks fly birthed by the log.
Hearts entrain to flying palm beats.
Eyes closed adrift in the sounds swell.
Smack, slap, tap, ping, begin again.

White skins sweats in a...

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