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Best Poems Written by Hlengiwe Mzileni

Below are the all-time best Hlengiwe Mzileni poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Sunday Memories

I remember the days when I was small,
 obedient and too young  to be alone at a mall
Mama would let me go out and play,
with my bare feet on the sand; building shapes with the clay
All day long it would be the same ,
but it all changed when Sunday came...
The comfortable sandals converted  to buckled shoes,
that definitely did not reveal my toes
My  bright coloured shorts replaced by a white dress,
Oh. My  mother dearest forbade me to mess
Then there were those navy blue tights, 
itchy, hot and I couldn't put up a fight
Mama would fetch her hat, all decorated with sequins and lace,
she thought it complimented her feminine face.
Baba would stay comfortable on the couch,
while off she went to fetch her pouch
When we arrived, there they  all were  identical in their Sunday-gear,
hugs and handshakes were exchanged everywhere,
then the service would start with its exciting atmosphere.

What I remember most, was when we got home, 
Greens, oranges, reds and rice
But my favourite was always that roast chicken with lots of spice!

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My Heart

My heart is an organ none like any other
It pumps and pumps giving life to my body,
 and whispering symphonies to my brain.
Like stones trod upon it has silently endured pain
It demands my attention, judging with each meal I swallow
It keeps me company thumping...thumping...
Thumping peacefully to my African rhythm.

My heart is a beauty biologists admire, 
monitoring its every action, as with an infant fresh from Mama's womb.
It speaks but its intentions misunderstood,
 and faces a new nemesis at doing good.
As far as East from West it knows no boundary or Geography
It cherishes that which my mind is unable to,
 guiding my decisions through all dilemmas.

My heart is no Professor,
for its wisdom has no limitations or knowledge by words written or told .
My heart, my heart...
Is not mine, but a gift that He has allowed me to borrow.

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Entwined

Just the other day we walked on shells
Afraid to verbalise what our brains would say
You complimented me about my eyes  
Sweet words flowed through those lips I call mine
Conversations that lasted for hours, 
Had us floating in our own bubble of smiles
You and me.
Me and you.
We are. Entwined.
Like the tree needs its roots in order to grow,
So my love for you I will show
We are. Entwined.
As the sock always goes with a shoe, 
I too, will be there with you
We are. Entwined.
Like the thread blends admirably with every stitch,
I'll hold your hand when we pass every ditch
We are. Entwined
You and me
Me and you. 
We are.
Entwined.

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I Know

I know of no man who would love me like you do,
Spending each precious second watching what I do
I know no person as honest as You,
telling me the truth not what I wish to hear
I know no judge as just as You,
giving each the fruit worthy of their plantation
I know no father as committed as You,
providing for my every need without complaint
I know no healer quite like you,
making that which man seeth impossible disappear
I know no friend as honourable as You, 
at my side through each upcoming dilemma
I know of no family as reliable as You,
for Your hospitality will never reach an expiry date
I know of no ruler more worthy than You, 
solving each and every crises without pay
I know no designer as talented as You, 
creative and efficient in all You do

I know no greater love than that I have for You,
For 'though things may change, never will You

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Musical Musings

"I never travel without my diary, one should always have something sensational to 
read..."

I love You, I really do
When people are few, He always helps me through
If I remain true, You'll never bid me adieu 
You chose to make the sky blue, and see it all from a view
My face filled with tears I did not understand
and the book of life, You taught me to comprehend

I love You. I really do.
I'd told myself that I knew, 
but You showed me I had no clue

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This Gorgeous Skin

My skin is not like caramel
so sweet to look at and light to the core
No mixture of tones
and yellow in MY bones

My skin is not like milk so white
and sensitive to the sun that shines,
then changes its shade in the face of embarassment
This hair not long, silky and smooth
nor my eyes hazel, green or blue

My skin has no red tint to its glow
with ancestors who've seen the Taj Mahal 
and prepared the finest curry,
no.

My skin is not like Asia at all
with eyes shaped like almonds 
and famous straight hair

My skin has a recipe all of its own,
a mixture of mud, with a touch of gold.
A beautiful blend with any colour,
Eyes black and gentle with a tiny sparkle,
With lips not red with rouge, but full and lucious. 
This hair of mine, oh what a wonder
thick like wool with its stubborn texture.

In spite of all that,
I love my skin!

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I Am

I am not what they want me to be
I am not who they want to see
I am not where they think I should be
I am just me, just normal me.
I write what I feel, what I can see
I sing songs I have heard, ones that can't be told by an ordinary bird.

I am the daughter of my Father in heaven,
I am not a vessel of my ancestors
I am the colour of nature itself, 
I am symbolised by the deeper shades of the Earth below
I am not what they want me to be
I am not who they want to see
I am not where they think I should be
I am just me, just normal me.

I am me, just beautiful me,
I am me, a warrior and conqueror
I am me, just lovely me,
I am me, a child of the Deliverer.

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My Dear Sister

There you were 12 September 1996
Delivered safely from your exhausting trip
Noisy and chubby weighing a ton of bricks
While I was cute and four oblivious to it all. 

Now here we are fifteen years later, 
We've created memories to last us forever
Though toys entertain us no more,
Your company does it all for me.

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A Poem About Nothing

Just this once I don't want to be held
To let go and not have to comprehend, 
not have to comprehend the words my heart spill, 
that my mind has lost will to read.
I'm going to put my feet in the sand, 
And watch them vanish under the grain.
If only life were like a well, 
long and narrow, unknown in depth,
would it be easier to follow direction?

Just this once I'd like to jump 
To feel my body give in to gravity,
and listen to the wind rasping loudly 
Perhaps I'll put my hand on this chest,
to the beat that will thump loudly in fear
People can stare for all I care, 
They are welcome to join if they dare.

Just this once I'm going to write, 
Allow these fingers to flow as I go, 
To see letters get  better and form words of their own, 
that may not be put in any genre
So this is that poem that speaks about nothing, 
That I still hope will meet your callibre.

Details | Hlengiwe Mzileni Poem

The Master of the Tugela

As the salty sweat runs along a smooth path on my back
The sun burning my skin to the finest of nature's browns
My heaving eyelids are slightly lifted to one of Africa's superb monuments...
Endless views and beauty,
Unlimited splendour to the creator of such a splendid sight
Continous like a nation of its own
How many have had the bravery to climb
Curiosity pondering my mind at what each experience was like
And to finally have a tiny taste
To experience it on my own