Jabulani Mzinyathi Poems

the leaf on the ground
now warped or shrivelled
that vibrancy now gone
fast turning into humus
...

this one will be not be caged
this one is no potted plant
this one will not be in an aquarium
...

i have listened to them speak
speaking from the pulpit
i have listened to them speak
speaking from the podium
...

peace is not deathly silence
a deathly silence in the morgue
peace is not a web of fear
fear of jack boot kicks, truncheons, guns
...

when what has been hidden
from the wise and the prudent
has been revealed to the babe and the suckling
when the cupboards can no longer hold the skeletons
...

the singer said it
pick those broken wings
learn to fly again
that drug hope delivered
...

with all its dexterity
off the branch
the monkey shall fall
...

we created frankenstein
some actively made the parts
in your graves do you hear me
others chose to be in deathly silence
...

my mind is in labour
the pain is getting worse
the baby is on the way
could be a full term baby
...