When I See You by Baphelele

When I see you...
I see love, happiness and forever
When you hold me in your arms
Oh God, it's an unspeakable moment
The way you talk to me... 
Like I'm a pair of new shoes
That's how I feel...
But how do you feel?
Cause baby, you see!
Lately, I've been noticing the changes

Yes changes..
And the sad part is that you're the who's changed
You're the one who's phone is always on silent
You're the who's coming home late
You're the one who comes home smelling of women perfumes
Baby it's you. YOU DO THAT!
You're the one who doesn't answer my calls anymore..
You're the one who gets late night calls from "clients"

I hold on to you...
Because I silently pray it's not true...
Even after I caught you in bed with her...
I forgave you because I didn't want lose you...
I forgave you because I thought it was my fault...
I forgave you because you promised me you would change..

You never did...

You still bitch around...
But like the good wife i am..
I shut it.
I got tired of waiting for you to come home.
I got tired of arguing with you.
I let it go...

Though we were bound together by this materialistic object...
You're heart was not with mine...
Hell! You probably lost your heart at the nearest brothel.

I still stuck around!
Surprisingly, I put a wide smile on my face and loved you!
I shouldn't have loved because monsters like you don't deserve love...

Then came the hittings and chokings...
I felt like I deserved every punch thrown to me
I wasn't a good wife...
I couldn't satisfy you..
I guess I believed i deserved it..
serves me right huh?
I remember praying for relief...
I remember you hearing me pray...
I remember you beating the living daylights out of me
I remember...
And that was it...
I drew the line...
I left...

When asked why I hadn't left sooner
I recall telling them that I was still in love with him
I recall saying that I didn't want to be the woman who never fought for husband... Marriage
But it wasn't the marriage that I was fighting.. it was him...

And after months to myself, I realized one thing:
I wasn't in love with him. I was in love with the memories we shared and the years we spent together..

That's we do these days.. We fall in love with the idea of being in love rather than being truly in love.

Inner Voice by Tandzi & Fkaay

I speak for that girl who gave it all,
I'm the echo of that voice  desperately needing  to be heard;
The sound of her voice is like thunder,
When the rain falls with no raindrops.
Her face is freckled with love,
Beaming like rays of the sun.
She hides under the shadow of agony,
Afraid to fly without wings.
She limps in pain,
Crawls with dreadful awe to see each day prevail like sunrise shining to reveal the beauty of nature.
She's held captive by her soul,
Absorbed by the scar her own heart inflicts on her.
She's wounded
With lacerations so deep she hides her imperfections in them.
The essence of what used to make her
Gashing  like waterfalls
Running out of honesty,
Courage,spunk and light,
She's bleeding to death;
Embedded in her sorrows and Held hostage by the pains awaiting tomorrow.
She is like a scarred lioness putting up a face,
As she paints her face jolly,
Like the moon she has no light of her own;
The scars of failure attenuate her esteem to zero.
She's desperate for someone to look beyond the fake smile
Yearning to be told
"I see you"
To stop her cries
And heal her heart;
Engulfed and thrust in depression like French fries immersed in fat.
I speak for that girl who gave it all,
I transform her pains to everlasting joys.
Like a joystick, I want her to control her;
Change her mindset,
She's no zero but a hero plus.
She's been contused for a numbered years,
Her soul needs a peaceful slumber.
I'm the  echo of her voice,
It vibrates in the atmosphere making waves,
That she rises up rapidly with a winning streak.
Let her rise,
Allow her to speak,
Let her be,
August as a queen;
A beautiful woman.

©Fkaay&Tandzile 'Tandz'

You Made Me by Fkaay

The animal I am
With nothing but hatred churning and burning from the cauldron situated where my heart used to be
With lucifer and his sons now living inside of me
You destroyed my halo
Destroyed my innocence & left me to the vultures
You made me
See I became this cold apparition before you
This cold wounded symphony that even Beethoven shredders to start

With Greed and desire fuelling this vengeance protruding from my eyes
Devouring all the good that once was. .
Drooling at the pretty skinny short girl
You charged..you made me
Ripped apart the once so sweet stuttering girl and succumbed her to life's reality
Weren't you meant to shield her? Fight for her and with her??

Gone without a trace I can barely remember her face
I see pictures but it seems I have dementia
With all hesitation and stuttering gone
She parades through life destroying all that flashes before her eyes
Like poison ivy her beauty doesn't know what it really is
Im a wandering body with no soul and no heart
No sense of remorse whatsoever
And when I fulfill my quest and stand on your lifeless body
You will know
You made me

©2016,Fkaay

75 Years Of Poetic Silence by Sakhile

His dark skin and grey hair
His wrinkled face and pale hands
His broken smile that pierces deep into aorta
he smiles as if its the last thing left to do

He has a story to tell, and an audience waiting to listen
His eyes, once so bright and sparkling, now teary and
golden brown. They alone tell a quarter of his story
He seeks the courage and determination

For a long time hes been waiting, waiting to tell his story
Waiting to be listened to and applauded, for 75 years he
waited for that pat on the shoulder. For the standing ovation,
He had this hero inside, calm and patient, the hero waited

And today, the long robes of curtains divorced before him
To the sound of a heroic trumpet, the synchronously opened
The look on his face and he saw the hunger in the faces of the people. All there to witness his speech

Finally, he gained the courage to stand. though his legs disagreed
but the aid of his walking stick shot him straight above the spectators. Today he was great. Today he was the Nelson Mandela

For a long time, oppressors had taken his shine. They had
been so cruel he forgot what being a hero felt like. But today poetry set him free. poetry gave reason, gave him meaning

For 75 years, his was not heard. He was not audible to the people. But Poetry, gave it to him

© 2016,Sakhile Simelane "Sakhy"

Inner Thoughts by Sherika

My demons are the sounds I listen to when I sleep.
It's funny how I find comfort in their voices through the night.
The skeletons in my closet are rackling but they are not coming out.
I know I should be scared but fear is far from me.
what really should I be afraid of because the evil is of my doing.
I can't say I was not warned before I touched everything that turned into ash.
My soul is at home in the solitude of my cold heart.
The devil is smiling as he has finally won me.
I will not even fight because the victory is not worth it.
I made my bed, now I shall lay in it...

SHERIKA © 2016

We Matter by Manqoba Man G Ngwenya

'The skin does not define any human'
The dictionary doesn't even mention the word 'skin' as a constituent of the definition of the word 'human'
So tell me why do you even think of skinning me alive
Is it because you see me as a pig meant to be grilled alive
My skin pigment should never make you think of killing me

See I thought all of us were human
Until this hue men; men of color gave me this murder omen
When I give them my beaming smile, they give me a crooked smile
When I welcome them warmly, they give me a welcome so wooden
Now I realise to them, I am this little piggy bank
When they see me, they see money

Hol up, let me bring this matter to the fore with no metaphors
I hate this discriminative attitude you have towards albinos
Our lack of melanin shouldn't make you think less of us like we are bambinos
Hell this melanin that makes you feel more human is a mere lining
So whats the difference? Black/white we all have functional body parts
We both walk the same walk of life coz we are counterparts
So what the hell gives you an idea to put my parts on the counter?

My soul is as priceless as other homosepians
But somehow society has attached a price tag on my soul
You scheme on me and price my body parts through skimming
You label me a veblen good yet I feel so giffen within
You break the law of demand when it comes to me
All for what? Wealth Power
Why not hit the gym to be powerful

Last but not least, ask yourself this question; what is matter?
Matter is anything that takes up space, right?
So why not let me feel comfy in my space cause I matter
See the matter is we matter fact don't know what matters so we overlook the facts of the mater
What matters is you take in matter
I breathe out matter
So why can't you see that we both matter

2016 ©

Dream It Big by Abigail

I'm a woman of my dreams,
some call that being hardcore...
but i dont see anything wrong in being a girl who dedicates and obligates..
And working till my limits.
My dreams are mine to dream and mine to fufill, so stick your nose in how you're gonna get your next meal..
Cuz i aint gon' do it for you
Im too busy finding something tangible to do.
So please call me a nerd and a geek with no social life,
All I know is I'm walking away from life's pain and strife.
And yes I know I might pour myself into school and books,
But its not because I dont have time for ma looks.
Trust me, ma mom freaks out when theres a lil' gloss on ma lips
And its not like I dont have shit to do apart from read, read, read.
I just feel like there's more to me than boys, or parties or even prom night out.
I think I should be able to survive with these things or without.
OK, I'm tired of rhyming I just wanna speak...
but the words have their own mind and refuse to be meek.✍
Aiit, seriously now back to this piece..
I love the way Im nerdy and smart and neat...
for you it might be outta date and kinda old school..
But one thing I'm sure of is that my future's far from doomed...
which is something I can hardly say for most of you.
So c'mon guys, girls;
Pick up your noses from da dirt...
Cuz its not too late to make a change, and help yourself to rate
a 100 on life's scale of deeds;
And do a lotta awesome feats.
Lets stand for something people,
that they might not necessarily like..
But we know its for our future..
and our journey through this life..
So let them call you nerd, pussy or even geek.
At least you'll know you're someone..
whos a person of their dreams.✊

Speak Out by Mlungisi

I'm flipping the pages of your heart-dictionary
I'm just trying to find 'your' definition of love
Because this here sweetheart
Is the golden truth
Listen up; get rich!

Your words used to kiss me; not sting me
Now they are nothing but venom
That when you speak paralyses my spirit.
They pierce to the heart with wrath
And leave it bruised,
They leave a painting called a blue eye.

You're like a man in possession
of a riffle
He's powerful until he let's the
trigger go off.

But let me tell you something
This ends right here; right now.
Because we men also, are
victims
Of gender based violence.

Believe me, I am the voice of
every men
That you've silenced in the name
Of true love.
The words have finally found a
way
To wrestle their qualms
Because I am not afraid to speak
out,
Not anymore!

©Mlungisi Nxumalo
2016

Pre-order Intimacy by Mlungisi Nxumalo

We Matter by Mlungisi

These voices in my heart are seriously at War
Listen up as I pen my cold addiction
Call it an Enlightenment on this war I'm about to declare.

It's a moment of silence in this loudness of uproars
Government turns a deaf ear to our outcries,
So, we turn speech-impaired?
No.

Here's a letter to this government officials with a thirst for Money
I wrote it, but I'll just let Stammer stutter and stammer
As he climbs up the ladder
Of the speech
So just grab yourself a sit
Honourable what-what.

As the words dance to this beautiful letter I wrote you
I hope you are going to pick
A thing or two.

Firstly, you fabricate threads of promises
Then again you use your actions
As a hammer to break them.
What nonsense is that?
Next term aw'buyeli mfanwam, mncwi!

Seriously, these people are like a pizza man riding on a punctured tyre,
They don't deliver!
For a change we want young people in power!

As Stammer stutters down the ladder of this speech;
Don't forget that you are like a worse symbol
We upgraded you!
The same people that today you shit on.

Mlungisi Nxumalo

Pen That Cold Addiction™
2016©

Is Was by Nicole

Ay am me...
Me is Ay...
Ay pour out my heart when Ay spit on this lines...
Now Ay feel heavy that you now spit on me like Ay never was ...
But Ay was is before was was was...
Now my heart is so hard on me like Ay have seen all that are on heat....
Now Ay wanna bring my life back into is to put it in line...
Now Ay spit on your face like u were the was in this all...
Now Ay am is because was was never defined for who Ay am...
Now Ay go on stronger than ever....
Ay am me...
Me is Ay

©Missy Unique, 2016

Untitled By Nicole

Not that Ay write this cause Ay want but my heart feels very obliged to take it all out ....
Ay feel the urge to emphasize on the emphasis that you emphasized on the day you emphatically emphasised your emphasis...
Now Ay only write to emphasize on a point that was never made clear to me. ...

All Ay really wanna know is that where did it really not go right ....
Or was Ay going left so thus you decided on me and left...
That time you thought you were moving on the right time but unfortunately neither of us was right....
All we were doing we were led by feelings in this film we in called love...
We were in the season of love but nothing came in with the episodes....
Or was Ay on the wrong channel....
Someone please come help and we change the channel...

©Missy Unique,2016

We Matter by Siphosethu

Im a rose among thorns
Ngiyintfombi yaketfu
Silabhalabane sematfumbu aMake
Imbali yeMantungwa
Insulamnyembenti yamake
Ngiyatichenya ngebungimi bami.

Nyatfu! Nyatfu kunyatsela lokungenamkhawulo
Ingani langihambe khona ngishiya luphawo;
Nginyatsela kuzizitele iMelika,
Kuchuche Obama cobolwakhe;
Asho atsi yanyatsela intfombiyakabo!

Impela ngibonga kangikhawuli kulongetulu;
Langakha lelijaha!!
Titfo yimigcishilala wena lowabona teNdlovu;
Hha! Ngete ngacedza!

Ngiwaketfu! Ngingudzadze webanaketfu;
Ngingumnsinsi welakitsi
Ngivumele ke ngichakaze!
Yima kungihlukubeta nami ngingumuntfu kubakitsi!

I am so valuable!
So stop isolating me!
Stop discriminating me!
I am not who you think i am
Im normal just like you.
I need a bright future too
If you matter; i also matter
We matter!

Eveni letfu kanikhombi kusicabangela!
Sesahlala sichucha kuhle kweMhlanga usemantini;
Ngabe ngulelibala yini?

Labasetikhundleni; ngisho ticumama cobolwato,
Bayasihlambalata; batsengisa ngatsi
Kani tsine sitaba-bantfu nini?
Nisibita tinkawu; vele singito kodwa sale nisivela.

Sicela kukhululeka!
Minyaka yonkhe nijuba lilanga leNdiphethe;
Nine nikhululekile; kuthula kubutwa kini,
Tsine ngabe sitsi kuthula nekuhlala kahle;
Nisisukela ngemikhwa netibhamu!
Do you know how much pain you causing to us?
When are we going to get our own independence?
When are you going to know that Albinos matter too?
We Matter!

I matter to my family!
To the world i do;
To my friends i do;
To my future i do;
So if i don't matter to you; just leave me and let me live with my albinism
And accept that it is my right to live;

Ngivumele ngishakate ngekumamatseka;
Ngiyekele ngichakaze ngidzimate ngibhalashe;
Sivumeleni siphile kunye nani;
Uma sibulawa ngini nibaketfu,nitsi siphatseka njani
Setayaphi tinhlitiyo ebantfwini;
Lesibhuku nesibulawela lesingaka sibuyaphi?

Sesihamba sitfuka tanya ngenca yekwesaba;
Sicela emalungelo etfu asebente;
Asihlafuneni ngamhlatsi munye;
Asibumbane kuhle kwelijoti;
Ngoba sonkhe sibantfu ngekulingana
If you matter! I also matter;
So We Matter!!

©Sphosethu khumalo
2016

I'm Back by Sakhile

Im back with a pen in my hand, and its lid between my
Lips, caressed by the biting strokes of my teeth.
Im back to the place where my voice is only heard by
my thoughts
Where my brain merely interprets my feelings and puts
them to paper
Im back where my calvary meets my paradise and they
play dice
Im back to the land where no thoughts go unnoticed,
and no ink goes unfinished
I'm back to the land of poetic justice, where slaves do
exist
Enslaved by the capability of the hand to actually
discover the flow grammar in he head
The prodigal son they say, its only logical I know, but I
have returned
Ngibuye nendvuku yembangandlala my fellow ‘Pen that
thought’ mates
Just like the prodigal son, I have returned, just not
emtee handed
I still return with the skill granted to us by our Great
Father God
Allow me to ‘Pen that thought’.
Allow me to nurse my addiction
Allow me to gain momentum, to undo the fluctuation of
my acrivities
Allow to pen that thought, nurse that thought,
Poetry, Im back

© Sakhile Simelane "Sakhy"
2016

This Is No Poem By Mlungisi

This is no poem
This right here is a peon
Putting her shovels down
Madam won't eat today
I'm putting the tools down.
The irritation that forces its way out of my finger nails
Is the same irritation that will iron madam's clothes today.

Sleep wants me back to bed
I wake up at 4 am everyday, it's bad,
Warm the kids' and madam's water to wash their cruel bodies
They don't want me to cook except in the twilights
When they are back from work and school.

Inadvertently, I once dived into madam's noodles
I drowned in terror as she roared at me,
saying I'm only entitled to soft porridge and left overs.

She doesn't want me to go home
My heart yearns for a day to come
I want to see my family
It's been long now
Madam just foully gives me my loose six hundred
I put it in a kombi and send it home.

Madam sometimes accuses me of sleeping with her husband
Her voice is a brass band
My anger dances to its tunes
As she yells at me.

This is no poem
This right here is a peon
Putting her shovels down
Madam won't eat today
I'm putting the tools down.
The irritation that forces its way out of my fingernails
Is the same irritation that will iron madam's clothes today.

Mlungisi Nxumalo
2016©