I Am Different Poem by Thabani Khumalo

At one quick glance
I see more than I can describe in an hour,
In a day, or in an eternity of days.
There's plenty to see. There's often too little time to introvert
But I seldom forget to look at myself.
I consider the posture of my body when I sit,
I consider my physical appearance and the expression of my poise,
The clarity of my face the pointed tip of my nose,
The artistic manner of motion and pace of my stride,
My glance at beauty and the galloping race of my sweet heart,
The austere stare of my eye and the ensuing contrasting blush and smile,
The elegance of my presence and the volume of my build.
I look thoroughly again and then I wonder,
"where are all these fair qualities coming from? "
All these virtues emanate from a woman I call my mother:
Zanda is a beautiful creature and she has to know it.

I swear by the scripture and the verse of every chapter-
I swear by the gods and the devils and my father (to whom I render the highest praises) -
I swear by the sun and the moon and the stars that illuminate the darkness-
I swear by the thunder and the lightning and the rain-
I swear by the sky and the sea and the land (upon which I stand.)
I know I was morally sterilized by many discourses
But I always loved the other way because
I didn't want to be exactly what my brothers were -
The black sheep.