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Best Poems Written by Hloni Mahlaba

Below are the all-time best Hloni Mahlaba poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Impulse

Brilliant brown vibes curl around my neck,
drop down my spine and embrace my ribcages,
I am one holding the night
and command its flow to linger 
with anticipation.

Believe, the beauty of this woman
is a symphonic landscape on my velvety imagination,
I follow her aromatic shadow
down the steamy corridors of my soul.

Dark skin, I worship the hands
that molded you from the inside of your mothers womb.
Ancient bone of the Ashanti tribe,
seedling of the Luba tree,
your fruits shall be forever sweet to the southern palate.

You illuminate the present better than stars
light up the heavens,
I hold the night, you bring the glow.

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Gbv

A heavy stone
of concrete
steel
and dust
sits on my chest

I can't breathe...

A yoke of shame
hangs around my neck
formed with tears, blood
and bones
of a thousand victims
of Gender Based Violence
women
and children
knocked down 
and slaughtered 
before their prime
now singing: "senzeni na?"
from their shallow graves.

You asked what you did wrong
my answer: "nothing."
After this,
after this concession 
may you rest
in peace.

Details | Hloni Mahlaba Poem

Resistance

In true-spirited
Resistance 
the heart remains sweet
soft and pliable,
a fruit of all seasons.

But the mind turns inward
and ties itself into a knot
sits in motionless silence
like a bolted statue.

No marching down
streets like remote controlled
mannequins, 
chanting soulful mantras
with rugged voices.
-That births no change.

We envision a brutalized mule
refusing to sip
at the stream
because it knows
to live is to die
and we become.

Details | Hloni Mahlaba Poem

Flicker

I cut open my chest and laid it bare
for all to see.
A blanket of darkness 
resting within
caught most of the attention 
followed by a lump of acidic regret 
underneath it.
Then a smell of subtle peacefulness 
rose from the open encasement
which reminded you
of the flickering flame 
hidden in there
making all else visible to the eye.

Details | Hloni Mahlaba Poem

I Killed a Spider

I am guilty
I know
I killed a spider.

A miniscule tiny aspect of life
moving about its business
in my space.

It fled right
it fled left
it jumped up
it came down.
My godly presence
was everywhere 
like a black night.

I smashed its plastic skeleton
its fluid internals popped outside.
The poor thing
just curled
and retracted
like a coil spring.

Then tears
rolled out, from my iron heart.
I thought;
Was it worth
whisking away life
to protect
this insensible fear?