A Way Of Life Poem by Thabani Khumalo

THE SYSTEM'S GOON IS EMPORIUM,
HE GUIDES HIS THROWN WITH ROLLING GUNS,
HIS SCEPTER LIGHTS AND SHOOTS AWAY
BUT HE LAYS AWAKE TO THE LIGHT OF DAY.

IN HIS SON, HE LIVES; HE REINCARNATES,
THE SYLLABUS IS HIS THROWN MUNDANE.
BY STATUS HE BLINDS THE ABLE MEN
AND HIS BIBLES ARE CUNNING: JUST LULLABIES.

I AM PUT TO SLEEP BY THE HOLY WORDS;
TO THE HOLY WAY, I DOZE AND LAY.
WHY IS THIS DOGMA STODGING THE WORLD
AND THE PASTORS REAP THEIR SEED IN GOLD?

RELIGION IS SET AFAR FROM SCHOOL,
THEY PAINT A HOAX OF OSTRICISE
WHEN IT'S PREROGATIVE THAT WOULD MAKE IT SELL.
IN MY FRAGILE MIND, GOD KNOWS, I'M FRAIL.

TODAY I STAND AND THE TRUTH I LAY,
A CONSCIOUS BAIL - BE FREE UNPLEASED!
BUT, AWAY, AWAY I FADE AWAY -
OBSCENE IS OBSERVED AND NATURE IS PEARL.

MY WORD IS PEARL AND I FADE AWAY:
MAN IS AN IDOL OVER WORDS HE SAYS
SO HE PAYS HIS ALL FOR THE PEARLS AND JAMS
THAT MAN BELIEVE AND MAN DO PAY.

BECAUSE TWO DON'T LEAD, ONE HAS TO FAIL
AND A WAY OF LIFE IS THROWN FOR GAIN
BUT WHEN BEAUTY FADES, WHAT'S LEFT IS HELL.
SO THE UGLY AND THE PRETTY ALWAYS WERE THE SAME.