Language

Mlweni, Sanibonani, Dumelani, Guemadag, Mwiriwe, Moro and Good day

What is a language?

Is it what your mother gave you?

Maybe your father?

Why abandon what your blood

gave you?

But when I think back

I remember my grandma use to tell me

When you know too many you know the world

You know people

But again I ask why know too many forget

What that woman gave you, the one

You so call a mother.

Know but don't forget

what you got from that woman

Your mother tongue is

the most precious gift

You get to take wherever you go

and

THAT IS A LANGUAGE

-Ciza Sylvane

Fear of Love

Once again, my heart is broken
I've always loved you, but that was never spoken
I tried to tell you, but the earth beneath me started quakin'
never mind my stomach achin'

You told me you were never interested
but I think you hesitated
I never gave up, but I'm losing it,
the dream about you ...
there isn't a chance of fulfilling it.

I just want you to know that you are my sunshine
and maybe someday you will sunrise.

Just to make it through the day and not to get hurt
seems about the best I can hope
Like sauce stains splattered on my shirt
there isn't a pattern
everything is uncertain

It's difficult to cope
but I'm not losing hope

Really, SSS loves ZEE.

-Sandile Sandlana

The Nightmare

The dream I had
was not a dream

A dream
I could see myself
climbing trees

Trees that never stopped to grow
Running was unstoppable
Sweat was all over my body
swimming in the deepest ocean

Animals chased me through
the unknown way

Where can I go?
Where can I hide?
What can I do?

I stopped, helpless
After all,
it wasn't a dream
it was a nightmare

It got worse
Trees grew fast
The road had no end
The sweat drip-ling like
tap water

The ocean became deeper
Animals were a different kind of them
I didn't know what to do

I screamed
I called names I didn't know
After all ...
I was just in bed.

-Ciza Sylvane

Why Get Away?

I was told get away,
I grew up knowing get away,
they said be happy to get away,
but I don't understand:
WHY GET AWAY?

I heard get away,
they said get away,
talked the language get away,
maybe they came from a planet named
get away,

Their walk was get away
but I don't understand
WHY GET AWAY?

Her look was get away,
his touch was get away,
their heart was get away,
their minds could tell
get away

Love was not LOVE but was get away,
sounds were no more music
but were get away,
please make me understand:
WHY GET AWAY?

-Ciza Sylvane

If You Knew How Much I Love You

I don't think you know
how much I love you
You could never know
how I feel when I'm around you

how my heart skips a beat
how my mouth gets scratchy
how i feel like I'm about to faint
when i see you smile
that dazzling smile

How I feel sea sick when you
kiss my lips tenderly
but with aggression
that only you could possess

How my ears burn
when you tell me you love me
how my body melts like chocolate on a summer day
when you hug me

How i feel like I'm swimming in an ocean
when you wrap your arms around me and hold me

If you knew
Gosh, if you only knew
You know that I love you
I tell you every day

But I wish you could touch my heart
and feel the heat that rises through it
Then you would have a LITTLE clue
what I feel any time I'm around you

It's like you have this aura
that has enchanted me
as if you spilled a love spell on me
that makes me love you every day
more and more

A potion that makes me feel
like I'm the only one in the world
when you're next to me

If only you knew
And I hope one day you do know

-Ciza Sylvane

The Guy Sobs

Sobbing again because of her
I was certain I was going to get her.

She was definitely my fantasy
but she preferred people more fancy.

I know I would have been good for her
If only she'd given it a chance to be proved
But no!
I was let down and screwed.

Don't ever give up on those you love
and care for
They do break your heart
so watch out and be carefull.

-Sandile Sandlana

I Have HIV

Please do not be afraid to hold me
to hug me
to embrace me.

I will not die and leave you.
When the time comes,
I will gladly take that part of you
given to me on a journey
beyond both our wildest dreams

Only to meet you once again
and continue our friendship
our love
our embrace.

Let our hearts prepare
for this journey together
for when that time comes
know that you will be "the wind beneath my wings."

-Gracia Kapenda

The Ten Rand

Why was the ten rand crying?

Because it needed to be changed.

-Joe Kapenda

Socks

What type of socks do people keep in secret?

Secret socks.

-Joe Kapenda

Worms

What do worm publishers print?

Underground newspapers.

-Joe Kapenda

I Give You a Heart

I don't know what to say
or what to get you
because I cannot afford
to buy you a car

But I can give you my heart
This is very big
and greater than a car

I give you a heart
I don't know what is in my heart
but I give you a heart

Sometimes I feel something
strike me
I don't know what it is
but I give you a heart

Is this love or what?
I don't know
but I give you a heart

I wonder to myself
What can it be
but I give you a heart

Maybe I love you
but I give you a heart

-Ciza Sylvane

Remember Me

I tempted you
made you feel uncomfortable
laughed at your nakedness
but remember me

I laughed with you
but turned into a snake
in an instant

I broke your heart
and mended it again
Don't give up on me
but just remember me

Because there will be a time
when I'll change your life
like you changed mine.

-Elethu Nkala

Praising

I am saying you're an elephant
'cause you struggled for me
You struggle even when you were pregnant
of me

You protected me when I was a weakling
It was like I am a king
wearing a mane
Waiting for you to call me by a name

I'll kneel for you by my knees
'cause you're the only one that feeds
me towards respect
Because of you I know how to act

You broke up with my father
because of me
My mother
You're the only one in my dreams

Mom, I want you to be proud
of me
Even if I am making the crying sound
out loud

My mother, I'll return the huge favour!

-Lloyd Hanjana

Who Are You?

Who are you?
I thought I knew you
I thought I was able to
describe who you are

You know me, but
I don't know you
Where are you from?
What is your personality?
What kind of person are you?

I thought I knew deep inside you
I thought I knew your heart
but I fooled myself with
all that I gave you

Who can you be?
Why are you here?
I don't know you anymore
Get away from me
I don't know you

WHO ARE YOU?

-Ciza Sylvane

Mother

Mother, how far are you?
Where could you be?
How long do you have to take?
OH! Mother

When will I meet you, and
how will I see you?
My eyes are eager to see you
My hand desires to feel you
OH! Mother

I'm falling in love
but I don't know where you are
My heart falls for you so long
It hadn't felt the mother's love
OH! Mother

I need you, need you
right here by my side
I need to know mother's way
My feet need to take
the same path you took
OH! Mother

I need you
OH! MOTHER

-Ciza Sylvane

Permit of the Week

The heart that loves is forever young.

-Joe Kapenda

Smile

Smile. It is the key that fits the lock of everybody's heart.

-Gracia Kapenda

The Sad Sheep

How did the sheep feel when Bo Peep lost them?
Baaaa-aaaaad.
Real baaa-aaaaaad.

-Joe Kapenda

Everything Is Nothing

Wherever I go

I hear cries

Every way

that I pass through

I hear cries.

I went to America, where

I thought it was a better place

but I couldn't stand the tears of people

I was in France, where

I could think it was a little better

but it was like going through people's watery eyes

They cried for everything

you see

some with big beautiful cars

but you'll hear them say,

"I want two more cars."

Women with two girls or boys,

but you will hear voices that say,

"One boy and one girl is better."

People have honors but they want a Ph.D.

Everything that you ask for is nothing.

Whatever money you have will be gone in a split second.

What everyone has in a split second will be gone.

EVERYTHING IS NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING!!!

-Ciza Sylvane

Alone

So alone and cold

No one to take care of me

I have no home,

but the street is my home

Each morning I rise,

and the temptation will follow me

Questions will appear

out of nowhere

Must I go to the traffic lights

and beg

Or must I take my knife

and commit a small crime?

Each night I wonder

what I'll eat in the morning

Where will I sleep?

Will I wake up?

Are the police going to find me

and arrest me?

Or will I stay the same street kid that I am

with no hope of a proper life?

-Elethu Nkala