Her
by Karabo Dlamini 

She emancipates herself

From the chains that bind her wrists

Placed there by society.

 

All she strives for is freedom

Liberty,

And sovereignty.

 

Oppressed for centuries,

She aims for liberation,

In her mind reigns salvation.

 

Undermined for decades upon decades,

She emerges,

From the tears of her ancestors,

Along with the army of goddesses.

 

A new generation of women,

Deadlier than the amazon,

Arises.

 

She battles an endless war,

She is a soldier.

Her spirit,

Brings infinite power.

Her faith,

Makes her stronger.

Her voice,

Grows louder.

 

There’ll come a time when,

They’ll throw flowers at her feet,

Bow down to her law,

And watch her take her place on the throne.

 

But for now,

She fights.

K.Dlamini

 

Karabo Dlamini 

The light irony
by OdzThePoet

It was the light that attracted me
It caught my eyes that I couldn't move
Glued on it that I may not lose sight 
The closer I got the...the faster I moved...the dimmer it got
I deprived of vision...deprived of sense...I was blinded, 
Blinded by the very light that ought to illuminate my path
Lost my sight in its sharp rays
Because I was too focused on reaching the light
It was too dark on the ground 
So it was only fair to look at the light
I neglected the path that I ought to walk on

Didn’t they say “walk head held high”?
All eyes on me, 
It is said only a leg that is afraid to break that will never learn how to dance
So I thought the path was not important 
But now…...but now I can't find my way out… 
Let alone navigating back with no sight 

I was blinded, blinded by the very light that ought to light up for me
Did I say to light up for me?
Yes to light up the path so I may walk
So the light...the Luminous light is not the focus but the path is…..

By OdzThePoet

South Africa
by Elöise Lötter

Only when you’ve galloped beside the shiny springbok, 
Only when you’ve hunted with the cheetah,
Only when you’ve swung from the branches with the puff adder,
Only then, will you know South Africa.

Only when you’ve sat atop the wild wings of the hadada,
Only when you’ve sped away with the Gautrain,
Only when you’ve touched the farmland soil,
Only then, will you know how South Africans live.

Only when you’ve stomped your feet with the rhythm of the meropa,
Only when you’ve chewed at the smoky braai meat,
Only when you’ve jeered with the vuvuzela in your hand,
Only then, will you know who South Africans are. 

Only when you’ve strolled along the Strand,
Only when you’ve soaked up the northern sun,
Only when you’ve touched the wild soil of the Karoo,
Only then, will you know where South Africa is.

Only when you’ve run your fingers through the colored flag, 
Only when you’ve inhaled the sweet Protea’s scent, 
Only when you’ve laid your tongue on the salty Biltong,
Only then, 
Only then, 
will you know South Africa. 

Elöise Lötter
A POEM ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL LAND WE LIVE IN

QUESTIONS 
By Nelisiwe Claudia Ntuli 

It is whatever that causes me to feel aches. 
Time after time I question this feeling. 
Why me? 
Why do you have to be like this? 
You creep in my territory uninvited. 
You poke me till I weep. 
You then leave me shuttered. 

You take me to wherever it suits you. 
Yet it doesn't suit me. 
Why be so Cruel? 
Invading my space, 
At your own pace 
You just take. 
Not letting me take charge 
Because now you are incharge. 

Ouch ouch it hurts 
Ouch it hurts 
Why these sharp aches? 
Am I sick? 
No diagnosis yet 
What pleasure do you find when it's hurting me? 
Is it amusing? 
Oops sorry can't  you speak for yourself? 

But who are you after all?
Where are your manners? 
We don't poke others. 
We don't hurt others. 

I just reprimanded you 
Yet you are back 
Nothing gets through your thick skull 
Do you even have a skull? 

I said stop crawling In my body 
It hurts me
What are you? 
Are you a murder? 
Who are you exactly? 

Ouch ouch it hurts it hurts 
Ouch it hurts 
Can you even speak for yourself? 
"yes" 
Then answer me! 
"I am everywhere and immortal" 
"I am what you call Pain". 

Mme Waka!Mme Waka!
Mongwadi : Bonolo Convenience Maputa