(For Langston Hughes)
1. Ain't Got No Shoes,Still Dancing'
Foots bare, street cold,
but mabebeza, we move,
we glide,-moonlight don't charge no fee
We hum our bread song,
clap our hands,forget the pain-
joy be free,you see?
2. Stellaland Blues
Cup o' tears, chile,
Stir it with dreams and honey-
Lord,make it taste right.
Mom hum soft tunes,
sayin',''rise tonight''
3. Minibus Taxi To Glory
Ride slow, Miss Zodwa, ride-
dreamin' o' silk and Paris
but ticket say ''Zone Three''
Still, she sit tall-tall,
chin up, proud as prophecy-
queen of Destiny.
4. He Done Left Again
Roy packed his rhythm bag,
said he's searching for a dream-
left me clutching his blues.
I kiss his shadow,
whisper to the dawn his name-
Love don't choose no truce.
5. Ouma Le Roux's Bible
Pages torn,still sing-
Joshua fit the battle,''hum,''
and the walls crash down!
Ouma's eyes on fire,
preachin' from a ragged crown-
heaven in her frown.
6. Freedom Don't Come Down
They say,''Be patient.''
We say,''Patient ain't bread,food!''
hunger make us shout
Sjambok still hum in in dreams,
but we break it,loud and proud-
freedom,hear us out!
As I entered the house
I met fire
I felt heat
her face turned to flames
her eyes, a flame
I realized her fury
I quivered
as if it was Winter
she was sweating
exuding sweat like a Summer's rain
breathing heavily
a thunder-like breath
I knew it was going to rain
I doubted
whether backwards or forward
should I walk
if forward then I suffer
if backwards what if I fall ?
I turned with haste
I vamoosed
faster than her eyes
I left home
because of fear
not fear of sjambok
but embarrassment
of what I had done
so disrespectful
as we speak I am out-away
in an unknown forest
home I cannot return
because of my misbehaviour
that caused my Mother's wrath.
Drencho POET Loads
Pain pierces endurance barriers
silence orchestrates the mood
waterfalls leak from eyes
Y me? Y now? but, but how?
she screams tearing flesh internally
blaming trust anointed by her mother
"my father uses his ***** as a baby sitter"
snatching childhood from me lalinah
I befriended loneliness while sinking in quicksand's
of torturing flashbacks
My mother voiceless
her skin speaks of wounds, scars, tears
carved by sjambok, belt, fists of my father
she drowns herself in a lake of brew
stalking memories breaks her layers down to
meaningless breath-taking her to aisles of death
My voice tamed by photographs taken before
father lost his job, before hell scattered our home with demons
I lalinah begged hope to scream for help
yet till this day I wait in fright of tomorrow
"lalinah my child"
"Yes mother"
"Forgiveness is held hostage by time demanding a ransom,
just hang in there child help is on the way"
"But, but, but when mother"
"Honestly speaking I don't know child"
"But till that day reveals itself lets cling to our faith"
The storm
Raving hear and rolling there
Grinning and half-smiling in rumblings
then it bursts out in violent assaults
Spurring the tails of the wind
Wild gestures of the tempest
Then the roar and blast of thunder
Followed by the sjambok of lightning
Triggering the torrents of moods
Gloomy cloudy pathos laden nimbus
Sadness and depression flow in galleys of time
And a man is left alone in the pathway of wonderment
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