We Was The Sam In Our Many Different Ways Poem by Phillip Nine Mafunga

Once, I'd a friend
Simon Mombera, was his name
But Sam, we called him for short
Five foot four; he might have been in height
Very naughty but full of humour and life!

Years later, I wanted to go look for him and rekindle our childhood past
And a friend told me, Sam was no more
He got swollen legs and that's what took him, he said
Oh! My! "umbutshileni umbogat umfana ka Slembo"
Sam would've cried out laughing, but he aint no more!

Sam was from Zanu Yotonga Street, Zengeza 5
Once, I was from Tsikidzi Road, Mangoromera Section, St Mary's
But still, we was the Sam in our many different ways
He was a grade ahead, yet I was the older
Sam loved stirring up muddy waters for it was easy for him to run!

Years later, I wanted to go look for him and rekindle our childhood past
And friend told me, Sam was no more
He got swollen legs and that's what took him, he said
Oh! My! "umbutshileni umbogat umfana ka Slembo"
Sam would've cried out laughing, but he aint no more!

Sam made my primary school years fun
"umbutshileni umbogat umfana ka Slembo"
He would whisper as he passed by my classroom window
To him that was all the isiNdebele he knew
I tried to let him know it wasn't, but Sam being Sam, he believed it was!

Years later, I wanted to go look for him and rekindle our childhood past
And friend told me, Sam was no more
He got swollen legs and that's what took him, he said
Oh! My! "umbutshileni umbogat umfana ka Slembo"
Sam would've cried out laughing, but he aint no more!

He loved Phil Collins' music so much
"Do you remember? ", at Liberty Cinema for the first time?
"Oh how I wish it would rain down" once more
But ‘All my life" it seems I will search for him no more
For it's been many years now, but his memories linger!

Years later, I wanted to go look for him and rekindle our childhood past
And friend told me, Sam was no more
He got swollen legs and that's what took him, he said
Oh! My! "umbutshileni umbogat umfana ka Slembo"
Sam would've cried out laughing, but he aint no more!
25 July 2021