Best Poems Written by Mthokozisi Dube

Below are the all-time best Mthokozisi Dube poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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essentia

my arms remained open, 
but you were no where to be found. 
I tried ignoring you and the blood that claimed we were bound. 
retreat is a step away but my feet won't listen, 
inflated with loneliness I questioned you from that glass you glistened. 
you never answered. 

still with open arms, 
I asked you who you were, 
I demanded your core, 
but was given a value holding an unknown value. 
I was given nothing. 
disappointed and disgusted you bathed me in pity and grief, 
like some stinking skeptical stray. 

with wide open arms, 
I won't await your response, 
meet me on the highway to success,
 maybe the name I carve for myself shall glimmer,
 maybe I'll simmer on your exquisite outline, 
even so my desire shall not be quenched.

Copyright © Mthokozisi Dube | Year Posted 2025


Details | Mthokozisi Dube Poem

Bed257

I am a lone foreigner alocated 
in an exotic landscape with 
nothing but the foaming blue tides of duvet 
that I rythmically sway with like 
the sweet branches of spring. 
I stand, bend, sit on the salty 
lips of that ocean. 

however the shallow has never 
been my comfort zone so 
I fling myself into the belly of my bed 
and find my head in the jaws of a soft
pillow chewing my skull at snail pace. 
slowly, a heavy weight of 
sleep drowns my lifeless limbs 
and sedates my consciousness with a lullaby. 
"you're free! 
free from labour, free from you, free from everything besides me", sings Lady Lazy. 

suddenly
dawn breaks with orange permeable heat, 
she is Bed 257. 
she is not a root, she is a seed. 
keeping me from work,
I pull myself out of 
the vast roaring sheets and tidal duvet, 
I'm gratefully unappreciative 
and so the cycle continues.

Copyright © Mthokozisi Dube | Year Posted 2025

Details | Mthokozisi Dube Poem

it's not always about you

19 when I got married, 
claimed that I was his world his love. 
if only I knew... love so bitter it had to be my mother-in-laws' early coffee 
it's absurd - the comparison I mean. 
judging from her sweet pollen gestures, wolf in sheep's clothing I tell you, 
she wasn't the only one with a mask. 
I've had my fair share of pearls tea and gossip. 
a silver serpent caging me from the inside, of course no one knew about it. 
I can't find my notes but I think he might, 
it makes no difference to me though, 
it's about time he learns he has competition, 
might make him love me more, 
might bring me closer to 6 cushioned wood walls, 
might bring me some peace. 
what is peace anyways? why love when loss is guaranteed? 
lower your expectations, it minimises the pain. 
love me when it's relevant.
I don't know if I've actually had enough of it all or not?

Copyright © Mthokozisi Dube | Year Posted 2025

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