Thabani Khumalo Poems

The beautiful girls of Mamelodi look at me
and wonder what it is I do -
an ambulant character in the streets of the Ghetto.
I am a complete stranger to all,
...

Most days
We spend a hell of a time trying to retrieve memory of what went down in our past life.
So we warp too much of our present life and intricate it into the archives of past memory.
...

I require the authorities to give me proof:
He had a country in his possession,
that is my great-great great grandfather, Mzilikazi Khumalo;
who was a son to Mangethe - the philosopher;
...

Do you want me to tell you a blatant lie or reveal the burning truth?
You might want to grab a paper and pen -
and perhaps dot something of important and powerful thought:
In this bit,
...

We char ourselves dry with cheap cigarettes from a merchant store,
we cover long journeys in the dust against the cruel temper of the summer sun.
We are the mad men who stretch out to you for charity in the busy streets,
we are the broken men who yearn for your sympathetic care,
...

They went up in war arms, one evening
and strapped their guns to the waist because
they were prepared to fight a battle and win it:
Two scary thugs agreed to go lurk for blood money
...

Dear Universe

I have found that thing!
I've discovered a wonder in the crowds of man.
...

I was raised on extreme labor like a slave,
I was trained to skimp even when it wasn't warranted for,
I broke every whole and reserved part of it for the mysterious morrow;
thus I threw my bread loaf into a salted cistern.
...

LOB!
As you have heard me say it, so child listen!
I have bought you with the full value of my blood,
And I've indeed become your father of generations.
...