Knock Knock

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Abby.
Abby Who?
Abby birthday.

-Joe Kapenda

The Lion

Q: Pretend you are in a jungle, and a lion is after you. What would you do?

A: Stop pretending!

-Zandisa Mitani

Mirror in the Morning

This morning I saw sexy
eyes from sleep
They are originally
big and round like marbles

As she yawns with her mouth
opening wide
like she’s about to swallow
everyone in the world
She splashes her face with water.

She’s then awake ...

-Asanda Mini

Mirror

I am a mirror
seeing nothing but reflections
The lights glide to me, giving
Waves, waving the beauty of humans
The nature glorifies my vision.

Seeing the humans every glimpse
make you want to explore the outer
world of aliens with green
hair and blue skin

The blur sight of my
mirror ironies the soft hard
skin with pimple

-Asanda Mini

She's the One

As you grow up, you learn that:

Even the one person who wasn't supposed to let you down

probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once,

and it's harder every time.

You'll break hearts too ...

so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend.

You'll blame your new love for things an old one did.

You'll cry because time is passing fast ...

and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much,

and love like you've never been hurt ...
Because every sixty seconds you spend upset

is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Love is giving him the power to destroy you ...

but trusting him not to.
Real love stories never have happy endings
because real love stories never end.

In love, the hardest thing to say is goodbye.
Never make somebody your everything
because...
When they are gone, you've got nothing.

Having the love of your life break up with you

and say we can still be friends is like ...
Your dog dying

and your mom saying you can still keep it..

If you can't get someone out of your head, maybe they are meant to be there.

Really, SSS loves ZZZ.

-Sandile Sandlana

Chicken

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

A: To fetch its young ones!

-Zandisa Mitani

How It Feels

How it feels to give someone your heart,
and he or she doesn't care for it.

If you ask me I know how it feels ...
It feels terrible,

and as the owner of the heart,

it makes you sad.

So, if you are given a heart by someone,
my advice is that

you must take care of it!!!!

-Abongile Gogo

The Knife that Killed Me

It was the world's bluntest knife (through sight)
The knife that killed me

was once very

honouring and respective

It all happened so fast

and unexpectedly
It did not happen on purpose, that much I know -
but what matters is that

it did happen

I know it happened

because now I sit here
in this tragic and fearful place,
with no one to talk to

or share my feelings with.
I'm in HELL.

It killed me

by stabbing all that I believed in.
Having no compassion

for how I felt.

That day is one of the days I regret most in my life
It was the kind of day nobody should ever wish for.
On that day, I became the world's scariest knife ...
and the worst part is, I killed myself.

I killed myself without the intention to do so,
but I did anyway.
I went on doing what I believed
was plain cruelty, and shameful

I betrayed someone

whom I had once called a friend
I did to them bad things

which I cannot mention.

I killed myself without knowing it,

and now I want to live again ... but how?
We have only one life to live,
and I just wasted mine.

So, in other plain, simple words:
I NEED HELP ON HOW TO LIVE AGAIN.

-Tito Walaza

love

love is like
a war so easy
to start hard
to end impossible
to forget

-Sisipho Ndevu

I Dream ...

I dream of a place where love is in the air,
hatred, sorrow, and compassion are nowhere.

I dream of a world where no one feels ashamed
of themselves, but all have pride and acceptance.

I dream of a place where children play
safely and freely, without thinking, Who's coming to get me?

I dream of those who have nowhere to go,

to sleep
or to eat,

those who were not given a second chance for all that.

Then I think,

What if it were me?

I dream of those who leave school,

who had chances for huge life opportunities.
It might be me,

with those leaving school without a reason.

As I go ahead dreaming,

I dream about me having what I want in life,

from all the effort I've put in to school.

That's my dream.
What's yours?

-Onesimo Rwexana

Crazy About You!

Girl, I need you in my world,
in my life, and in my heart
So we can go together,
and tear the world apart.

I love you in every way

and I love you 'cause you're smart
You're the reason why I'm rhyming,
'cause my brain is full of art.

The first time that I saw you
was like day 25
I was passing by your soul.
I was sipping Five Alive.

Now I sit here praying,
thanking God to be alive
Now I'm praying just for you, girl.
I need you in my life.

I can keep you safe.
I'll put my arms around your waist.
We can drop the case.
Baby, we'll go at one pace.

I'm like a car, the way they treat me.
We can travel place to place.
Baby, listen when I say,

we can travel up to space.

-Tebogo Old John

Unlike Dreams

My dreams ...
I dreamed I killed another,
which will never be my thing.
I'll plead my father to shoot me

with a sling
if I do bad thing

when I am an adult.
I will be ill.

My dream
I own it
like a ream
of papers

And dreams have layers
and thoughts of dignity
because things happen

repeatedly

I dreamed horror
and knew I was an owner
of my dreams

And please!
My favourite reader,
open your eyes

I am only talking about my feelings
that are coming out as visions
Mum, I feel eerily
about the STEADY beats
coming out pounding

THAT WAS ALL MADE BY MY SCARED FEELING
CALLED UNLIKE DREAMS

-Lloyd Hanjana

Dancing Horses

Question: Why are horses such lousy dancers?

Answer: Because they have two left feet.

-Joe Kapenda

Your Name

The first time I heard your name, I wrote it on the soil, then the wind came and blew it away. Secondly, I wrote on the soil again, then the water came and washed it away. Thirdly, I wrote it on the sky, then the clouds covered it.

Lastly, I wrote it in my heart, where it can stay safely, and nothing can disturb it.

-Piwokuhle Piwo

Change the World

When I become an entrepreneur
I want to be called Meneer ...
And treat family and friends fair
and others that need welfare
To clear the air

I think of being a president one day
To change the salary that employers pay
Because we are equal
To oppose the thing to have rich and poor
and open doors more

They say its easy to be poor
but its hard to be rich
Others are rich because of witchcraft
Some are rich because of hardworking
Rich people help the others
and others ask for help

YOUTH! THE NEXT GENERATION!
We have visions
And mission to achieve
And we have to be patient, PLEASE!
For others people's needs
We need to be fresh and grow
Like we were plant with seeds

As an AFRICAN child
I want to change the world
and to be not forgotten
Even if I am rotten

Lying in the GRAVEYARD
Had tried to change the world is a good thing
But decreasing dignity is bad
Because others will add
to what you've done
because you'll think you're the one
But you're small inside
and influencing other youths' minds

But YOUTH, I think it's time
To change the world
This planet is old
And we've been told
About the history

So what we will be remembered by?

The Importance of a Choice II

Since your choice decides your future,
When you make
the wrong choice,
you’ll notice it.

If others choose your choice,
then you won’t notice your mistake.
Your life is at risk,
not theirs.

You’ll become a follower,

which makes you feel
small ...

Then you feel
like you’re in a world
you didn’t want
to be in.

You ask yourself,
Why? Why me?
It’s because of
others' choices.

-Chris Lambert

ATransporting Dream

I find myself in the place
that is unknown.
Where could this place be?
I ask myself.
Things are so beautiful,
things I didn't see before
but when I look to at myself, I see things
that I have dreamed of,
things I wanted to be.
the First thing that came into my mind
was that: I am in another world,
a new world, where I had never been.

I could feel the precious wind blowing on me.
I could feel myself floating in the air.
Things I saw were different
from things that I know now.
Who was I at that time?
Life felt new to me.
I had changed.I was so different
from where I am now.
After all, I felt happiness
flowing inside me, and
I knew that I had achieved.
Ciza Sylvane

The Reality of Dreams

What dream do I have?
What makes me dream?
What is the motive of my dream?
Why do I always dream?

There is nothing else I can do or think

about a dream.

To dream is a natural thing.
Sometimes your dream will come true.
Sometimes it won't.

-Avuziwe Mkega

What's the Use of a Dream?

I could be dreaming
dreaming my life away
but what's the use?

I could sit
sit and dream I had a mother
but what if she dies?

I could sit
sit and dream I was rich
but what if I'm poor?

Can somebody tell me
what the use of a dream is?
I could just give up
on all that I believe in,
and all that I dreamt of
would be a tale to tell.

Can somebody tell me
what the use of a dream is?
I could be cut down to nothing
told that I'm good for nothing
and useless to this world -
and all that I dreamt of
would be like ice in my heart.

Can somebody tell me
what the use of a dream is?
I could be killed
murdered in cold blood
and all that I dreamt of
would be useless.

Can somebody tell me what the use of a dream is,
when anything could happen to me at any moment
and all that I dreamt of could be shattered to pieces?

-Shelly Zinyama

When Love Puts You Down

When all your hopes and dreams
are washed away
When everything you have invested
in the relationship
is no longer there

When all the promises
you made to each other
are in the world of history

You forget about all you had
and cry for what is gone
That's when love puts you down

-Sisipho Ndevu

Rainy Day Imagination

Sometimes when it rains
I imagine how it's like to
live in the streets with
no roof under which to hide

Sometimes when it rains
I see myself in the shower
feeling the raindrops in my body
until I become wet

Sometimes when it rains
I wonder how the world
would be without the rain
What would we use to
wash, drink, and so forth?

Sometimes when it rains
I imagine myself living in the desert.
There, I would get to use water sparingly -
whenever I could get it -
and then I realize that water is precious

-Abongile Gogo

The Importance of a Choice I

I hope that everyone in life
makes their own choice …
our own choice.

Where people get to follow their own dreams,
and not follow someone else’s,
because those are their choices,
not your own.

I would like to
ask you a question:
Were those people there
when you made the choice?

That is why you should
make your own choice
because that choice
decides how your life will be.

Your choice will make your life
a success
or destroy it.

-Chris Lambert

Freedom

Freedom
Many people don't know the meaning of it
They just say they have freedom
but they don't know how to use it

And they way they celebrate Freedom Day
is not good
Celebrating is not about
drinking alcohol and making parties

Many people say,
by freedom,
they can do whatever they like
because they got freedom

They say they are free
They take things they don't own
Killing people because of
the freedom they have

Freedom is not about
how free you are
It's about the free days, months, years
that we got with joy

THAT IS FREEDOM!

-Zintle Sibeko

Thinking of Those Without Homes

Sometimes when it rains,
I feel happy
and wish it would not stop,
because I say,
the rain washes away all my sad memories.

Sometimes when it rains,
I hear the drops of rain
going chapha, chapha, chapha.
It flows down and down
to the bottom of my heart.

Sometimes when it rains,
I remember when I got the flu
from playing in the rain:
My mother was angry at me,
but I always file it under my good memories.

Sometimes when it rains,
I smell the clear air.
I smell the freshness of the land,
and the greenness of the world,
and I wish the rain would not stop.

Sometimes when it rains,
I think about the people who don't have homes.
Where are they sleeping?
Are they warm or cold?
I wonder if I'm the only one thinking of it,
if I'm the only one who feels their pain,
and if others are doing anything about their pain.

Sometimes when it rains,
I imagine myself in the same position
as the people without homes.
I imagine myself without warm clothes.
I imagine myself being alone.
But most of all,
I imagine myself doing something about it.

-Philasande Yengwa

It Could Be Me

It could be me walking alone in dangerous places
It could be me driving my own car one day
It could be me breathing my last breath in a hospital
It could be me being in charge of the country
But I am glad it is not me ...
But it could be me.

It could be me in great battles around the world
It could be me having to kill someone because of money and hatred
It could be me ...
It could be me.

It could be me walking side by side with drug dealers, having more enemies than friends
It could be me having to face long sentences in jail
It could be me who has to cry every time things go wrong
It could be me having to support children without any fathers

But ...
I am glad it is not me ...
But it could be me.

-Anelisiwe Magalela

Rainy Day Questions, Memories, and Wishes

Sometimes when it rains,
I ask myself why do we need the rain?
I ask why we should be worry?
I ask why we should be cold?
I ask why we should wear warm clothes?

Sometimes when it would rain,
I used to listen to the kids,
when they sang the song:
Chapa chapa imanzi ilokwe yam
Imvula! Imvula!
Iyamanzisa!

Sometimes when it rains,
I wish I could change certain things:
Change the rain to sun,
change the darkness to lightness,
change everything to warm weather.

Sometimes when it rains,
I remember coldness
that makes people sick.
I listen to the rain.
It distracts me while I sleep.
It disturbs me when I am in dreamland.

Sometimes when it rains,
I imagine the snow that comes down
like a big white blanket
doesn't care about umbrella ...
doesn't care about thermal insulated clothes.

Sometimes when it rains,
I imagine the rain.
Where does it come from?
Who brings the rain?
How does it end?

-Ntombozuko Ndude

Only for You

You are the rhythm that pulsates in my body,
the blossom of my smile at the wake of the day.
You are the reason I have not given up or failed.
You made me realize life is full of possibilities.

You are the fruitful tree that blessed my dreams,
the tallest mountain who raised my self-esteem
You are the words of courage in my hours of strife
and the calming lullaby when I close my weary eyes.

You are the welcoming sanctuary to whom I always turn
when my agitated mind seeks a tranquil place.
You are the restful notes which constantly play
and leave a serene kiss on my beaming face.

You are more to me than just words put together,
filling the bareness with a garden of devotion.
To you, I can bravely reveal the secrets of my ocean,
and they will be safe in the closet of your chest.

You are the sole treasure I carry in my heart,
now and forever, long as I live,
today, and every day that we share each moment.
It is only for you that my love still breathes.

-Zanele Kibido

Do Dreams Really Come True?

I dreamed of a young man,
a man whom people loved.
He held no grudges, and
he lived the life of a king.

The dream that was so spectacular
that it made me wonder:
How can someone's life be so perfect
that he even goes to bed every single day
with a huge smile on his face?

I had a dream that I think
no one else in this world has ever had.
It was so real,
I couldn't forget about it.

The dream was about a young man,
whose expression was so perfect and familiar.
He was me in years to come.
He was who I want to be when I am older
and mature.

-Tito Walaza

Rainy Day Thoughts

Sometimes when it rains,
I think of the strollers that are feeling cold.
Others are young, and some are old.
And some are not taught and told
about the old people.
Words that are powerful,
compared to bold.

Sometimes when it rains,
I feel the pain
that unlucky people gain, every day.
Do they need to pay,
and just say, "OK?"
We are strollers; we don't have a say.

Sometimes when it rains,
I remember the day
when I won a bunch of coins.
I was ignored by my friends
who were angry.
I confronted them,
and our friendship shone again,
like it had been removed by Handy Andy.

Sometimes when it rains,
I hear a lot of Onomatopoeiu
that my sister and I hear
in different ears.
We have different ideas that appear
in our minds and in the atmosphere.

Sometimes when it rains,
I wish I could stop the rain for the homeless,
because I think it's careless
for parents to throw away their children
not knowing if they are stolen - FAST!
like a goal scored by Diego Forlan.

Sometimes when it rains,
I see droughts and floods
being spread by rain.
Even if its dark,
it doesn't even know where they will park.
OH, NO!
Here it comes,
with its destroying fluid.

-Lloyd Hanjana

A Dream for Success

What am I without a dream?
When will I succeed in my future
if I don't have a dream?
A dream is like a friend.

You may dream with compassion,
But just know one day your dream
will come true.
A dream is a passion ...
a passion that will never end.

My dream is a key to my future.
My dream is part of my choices in life.
I dream because I care,
and I know something will be a success in my life.

A dream is an imagination,
a good imagination ...
an imagination that will never let you down.

I am the dream!

-Lukhanyiso Malimba

Showing Emotions

I show my emotions
in many ways
throughout generations
throughout the days
of my life ...

Like sometimes when it rains,
I realize all my
sorrows and pains
until the last drop ...

Like sometimes when it’s sunny
I feel happy and funny
which makes me sit
in the blossoms all day ...

Other people show their emotions
in many ways
throughout generations
throughout the days.

-Chris Lambert

Mice

Question: What do mice eat for breakfast?

Answer: Mice Krispies.

-Joe Kapenda

My Dream Place

In my dreams,
I got to a certain place
which is like paradise.
It's a heavenly place,
sinless and quiet.

In my dreams,
I am in a place
where I can communicate
with other people and animals.

In my dreams,
I am in a place
where we are innocent,
and we live peacefully.

In my dreams,
I am in a place
where there are no slaves or servants,
because that's not pleasant.

In my dreams,
I go on a journey with no end ...
but it's possible to have an exciting journey
if you try!

-Zandisa Mitani

Sometimes When it Rains

Sometimes when it rains
I wonder what people are
eating and drinking that night.

Sometimes when it rains
I think of street children
with their mothers.

-Mphakiseng Letjeba

On Rainy Days

On rainy days
I hear the drops making
irritating sounds on the roof
as if they are angry

I would watch running water
And I would pick up the hail stones
when they suddenly fall.

On rainy days
I smell a lovely, muddy smell
As I go to cold school
I wish to be under the warmth of my blankets
or near the heater as it sucks the paraffin:
to be thirsty once again.

On rainy days
I think of times
When I would play with my polystyrene boat
floating like a cork on running water.
I would be amazed by
the smoke coming out of my mouth
I would pretend that I was smoking
on rainy days.

-Thembani Bottomak

I'm Wise

I have a dream
My dream is to be wise
wise enough to know who I am
wise enough to appreciate
what I have
but I'm wise

Wise enough to appreciate
what my mother can afford,
not wear all the labels known,
but I'm wise.

Wise enough to live in a beautiful,
decorated home,
but I'm wise.

Wise enough to be thankful to God
that I'm not sleeping around
wise enough to know who I am.

-Vathiswa Mhlana

Rainy Days with My Future Wife

I wish I could be with you - someone who would make me warm when it rains. Only you, my future wife, would stop the coldness of the wind and the rain that would make me sick or cause fever. You would make me warm and comfortable while I'm with you.

I feel horrible without you in the coldness. To be with you would mean a lot to me; my life would be full of happiness. I don't know what I would be without you.

Sometimes, on rainy days, I would like to enjoy something warm or hot, like hot chocolate, with candies and some chocolatey sweets.

I can watch something scary with you because, when you are scared, you will need my help to protect you. I would switch off the lights so we could be in the darkness, after whispering in your ears, "Don't be afraid of the darkness," said Wethu.

I could hear the noise of the wind, sounds like there were ghosts chasing us.

-Wethu Runu

I Am Who I Am

I am who I am because I was born to be who I am. Changing who I am won't make me who I want to be.

I used to stand in front of a mirror, asking questions with no answers: "Why did God make me who I am?" Gradually, as I grow, I tell myself God made me who I am for his own reasons, and I thank him for making me who I am. Today, I'm proud of who I am because of him.

-Melissa Figlan

I Have a Dream

I have a dream that
I am married
I am happy
I am a powerful woman
I am a strong woman

I have a dream that
I live with my family
my own family

I have a dream that
I am precious to my family
I am a jewel to my friends
I am a role model to everyone

And I have a dream that
people can trust me
share their things
tell me all their secrets
tell me all their knowledge
so I can tell them mine

I have a dream that
I was dreaming and I woke up
and then I tossed and turned
and even now, I have that dream

-Nasiphi Mbelembushe

I Go to This Place

I go to a place where ...

I live with my mother, sister, and brother, in a world where I would be a flyer ... where there is a lot of summer, and I would smell interesting aromas.

I would be a pilot and put forth a lot of effort. There would be no servants, because that wouldn't be pleasant.

I would like to live in a big house, where there is no mouse. I would like to have a beautiful vehicle and dress nicely, wearing spectacles.

I would like to have kids, who are identical twins. I would like to have sons and chill with them in the sun.

I live where life is free, a place where there is no weed. A place where there is a surprise, and every day, there is a bright sunrise.

-Sandile Sandlana

A Young Black Girl's Dream

In my dreams, I go to a place where there was once a young black girl, who was born and grew up in poverty.

In my dreams, I go to a place where a young black girl was once nothing, but always aspired to be something. Education, success, and prosperity were the last thing on her mind, because of her blindness and the society ... but who could blame her?

Pressure, boys, drugs, and slavery took their toll on her life. People breaking, tearing, ripping, and tramping her heart apart. At the end of the day, she's got to stay there to pick up all the pieces and mend her heart all by herself.

In my dreams, I go to a place where, yes, a young black girl experiences daily challenges like no other. She cries herself to sleep, but despite all of that, she tells herself, "Come what may, I shall always dream.''

-Zipho Majora

Lawnmooing

Jim: Why do you have a cow on your front lawn?

Tim: It's mooing my lawn.

-Joe Kapenda

Slow Dog

Question: How can you tell if you have a slow dog?

Answer: He brings you yesterday's paper.

-Joe Kapenda

My First Kiss

I closed my eyes and moved forward
She closed her eyes and also moved forward
I felt my heart thumping
I felt her breath and thought it was a breeze

My mind was all over the place
Questions floating in my mind
Answers outrunning the questions

I decided to move my lips a little forward
I felt her lips touching mine
and I opened my eyes

Tough luck ... I missed!

-Elethu Nkala

Life

Life ... sometimes awful, lonely, full of troubles, tension. But other times great, wonderful, exciting, adventurous. Every day is a new day, with new challenges. And I guess that's what makes it fun.

We all want to venture around the world, meet new people, and experience new things. But it's not always easy. Sometimes we get caught up in things that discourage us. But, as they say, "When I can't cope, Jesus gives me hope."

Don't let troubles bring you down. Always get back up, 'cause good things happen when you least expect them. Like winning the lotto!

-Gracia Kapenda

Cultural Diversity in South Africa

South Africa has many cultures and traditions, and just as many cultural dances! And I guess that's what makes it a Rainbow Nation. Dance, music, art, and drama are very much a part of many African ceremonies and rituals.

Dance plays an important role in communicating messages; for example, it can be a form of protest against human rights abuse. Dances are important in social events, as they reflect the values of a culture and its history. Dance also unites communities.

-Gracia Kapenda