VOICES IN TURBULENCEHAPPINESS IN THE GUTTER

The mark of the beastIt is upon usThe future was thereThere in the pastThat was the foundation

These one dimensional creaturesNegating those teachings of oldThe seed that fell upon the rockThe seed choked by the thornsToday we still are blind

Blinded by material thingsGaining the worldThe pursuit of silver and goldRearing hideous goblinsThese are the echoes of revelations

TWICE RAPED

The indelible scarsAftermath of a heinous crimeRaped first by a foreign banditNext raped by kith and kinThe trauma shall subsideThat time is not far

AFRIKA IGNITE

These little boysThey deserve a spankingA rod for a fool’s backTime tested wisdomClinging to western greedCape to Cairo, they need a spankingKeeping us far apartRespecting Berlin Conference borders

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Still reducing this giant to a dwarfForsaking this foundation of civilizationThose dreams shall come to fruition

THE MYTH SHATTERED

The drongo did it firstPecking at those hornsThat myth was shatteredThe myth of invincibilityKing Owl had no horns after allThe rest is history as they sayThat time is not farThe writing is now on the wallThe moment of crowning is now at hand

WHAT WILL BE SHALL BE

Some day I will sitIn the coolness of the shadeThe shade of a leafy tree

I will sing this songThis song of freedomThat whirls continually in me

I will light my *spliffGive thanks and praisesTo my forever giving Creator

The children will sing alongWe all will dance in joyWe all will celebrate our emancipation*ganja or marijuana cigar or cigarette

NATION BUILDERS

They jumped over the fencesThey jumped over the hedgesThey scaled the wallsThrough the back doorThey came in drovesThe gate crushers took overThey distributed the foodThey distributed the drinksThey gobbled the bulk of the food

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Their greed they exhibitedThe gate crushers are at it

SPEAKING TO POSTERITY

Will they listen to meWhen they cannot listen to themselvesWhen they brutally trample that ant voiceThe ant voice deep within themselves

All faith in them I have lostThose stories of old are aliveThe fire in the hearth I rekindleThe present chooses not to listen

Let me talk to the futureMaybe one soul may listenThis nation needs the healingSome day someone will listen

A VISIT

Ominous it wasShook me by the rootsThe roots of my existenceThat it didThe violent stormThe bolt of lightning struckThe gigantic tree uprootedAll those lives were sparedThen calm returnedThen I talked of those prayersI was smote by their disbeliefLike a tortoise I withdrew into my shell

BEHIND THE GLAMOUR AND GLITTER

These pathetic creaturesIs this the humanityThe senseless wars everywhereFor gold on their fingersGold around their necksThe blood behind the diamondsThe blood shed for the crude oilThese pathetic creaturesThis is part of the exorcism

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CAUTION

What warped nationalism is thisWhat warped pan Africanism is thisPretending to fight this imperialismBy night selling the sacred inheritanceBetraying those bones not yet interredBetraying that blood not yet dryKeeping fellow citizens in chainsThe chains of fear and povertyHolding out trinkets to sycophantsAnd the ubiquitous opportunistsI reject this blind pan AfricanismClapping and ululating to aid violenceNow in the vortex of violenceAiding black on black violence, yesTo spite the enslavers, colonizers, imperialistsSee they hide behind revolutionary rhetoricTheir deception is destined for the dung heap

FOR THE DUNG HEAP

There is no meal hereToo late to salvage anythingThis fish is rottenThe foul stenchFrom the head to the tailTo the garbage canTake it there fast

AFTERMATH OF THE WAR

When the war is overRemember to appease their spiritsThose that became food for the crocodilesThose whose bones are in the sandIn the river bed of the LimpopoThose that the murderous gangs preyed onRemember all those childrenShot and killed or maimed on the farmsThose that languish in apartheid jailsThose that adopted new namesThose that turned to prostitutionThere hoping to find redemptionMany that succumbed to the scourge

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Remember to appease their spiritsOMITTED LESSONS

Question the relevanceTear up the certificatesNew lessons beckonThe syllabi omitted theseThe viciousness of the crocodilesSwimming across the flooded riverNegotiating with hordes of robbersThis is the sound of realityGiving bribes to law enforcersCrawling under the razor wireThe dexterity of scaling electric fencesThese are the lessons they omitted

SMOTE

EgoliWhere is the goldThose bright city lightsTo me it is a dark, dank cavePerhaps a nightmareWhere is the sweet dreamWith the cops in hot pursuitThis cat and mouse gameSome kind of Russian rouletteStanding in the middle of the roadSelling a plethora of newspapersHeadlines screaming about border jumpersAbout the xenophobiaAbout the grinding poverty back homeChasing after the elusive randAmai what has become of meA corpse under mounds of frustration

REALITY CHECK- UMPTEENTH TIME

The truth shall set you freeThe preacher man said soThe politician took to the podiumThe claim: his word was the truthThen I saw images of freedomOn the streets I saw the squalorThe politician’s bin was full of left oversThen he sped past in imported cars

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Then I remembered his wordThe preacher man’s word I rememberedNow it is time to tell the truthBound in shackles and chainsThen thrown into the dungeonsThe penalty for the truth is death!

THE CURSED ONES

This explosionThis implosionThe maggots shall not have itHere where it belongsTrouble their consciencesThat is if they have anyThose that have personalised itPersonalised our struggleThese self righteous bigotsRaping this nationWe shall remember themCondemnation is their crownThe curse they shall bearThey shall lie in solitudeNo one shall bring them flowersForlornly they shall be in their gravesNow we refuse their piss and shitHear the trumpet of struggleVictory for nation buildersOpportunists be damned now

HYPOCRITES AND PARASITES

Beneath the bland smilesBehind the toothpaste advert smilesBehind the discordant sycophantic songsThe din of ululation and whistlingIn the glamour of cheap oratoryThere is the desert of insincerityThat is the haven of avowed hypocrites

DEFLOWERED MINDS

Waving away the flies of boredomWith the images of debaucheryThe hangover of that bliss

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All that denial and the shameThe excesses of technologyThe tonnes of pornographic materialsDabbling in all this perversionHideous sex packaged and soldThe price is too high to paySex selling hot on the internetThe masturbation, the shemalesThe sucking, the fucking and the groaningThe addiction is plain to seeOur baser instincts on a pedestal

FRAGMENTS OF MY HEART

Then your tears in a delugeThey cameA shoulder to lean onThat you neededThere for you I wasAt rope’s endYou could have dangledThose promises you madeToday the stench of liesYou used me and abused meNow you trample my feelingsAlone I am in my tribulationsBlown off like chaff are your promisesThat together we will walkWalk along this narrow pathRegret is the sanctuary of the weakNow I have to pick myself upFrom the dust of your liesForever on my way to happiness

MY SPIRITUAL BATTERIES

Recharging my spiritual batteriesThe manifestation of my creatorGive thanks and praises to the beginningThe story behind this soilThat forced relocation to these sandy soilsThis time the deep introspectionReflecting on the hypocrites and parasitesDestruction walking with smiling facesIn the concrete jungle where the living is roughWho is the hunter? Who is the prey?

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Today I invoke the warrior spirit

LINES FOR EMELO 2

Through that rough patchThrough those thistles and thornsThen I was your emotional shock absorberToday on the dung heap I amBut I know it is only for a whileAgain you will come cryingThose wounds I will treatLike a used condom you discard meBut some day the door will be boltedYour burdens you will bear aloneThen a refuge I will not beTake the hailstorm of your tribulationsToday I carry this sadness aloneThe victim of your amnesiaThese emotional scars shall be goneTake your woes elsewhere

TRIUMPH

The dropping bombsBombs of propagandaBombarding my brain paths

All these godsSeeking to cage my mindWeaving their webs

Torrents of religionsSeeking to drown my soulThe din of futility

The vibrancy of my rootsRepelling these machinationsThe din of triumph

THE URBANITE

In the citiesThe emasculationAll this desolationPlunged into darknessThe urbanite has no balls

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With this domesticated shitThe water pipes dryThe urbanite stinksTake for granted their resilienceThere in those placesDerisively labelled the sticksLabel them country bumpkinsLook at the pretended sophisticationThe urbanite is in a mess

BEHIND THE VEIL

Those galloping thoughtsThat societal restraintFor hearts would be brokenDark deeds would be doneThe secret communicationHeightening the emotionsThat dance long startedThen young dancers we wereThe sweetness of this musicNow that innocence is goneIs this an illusionIs this a delusionWhat is this bird freely flyingOblivious of hideous archersAre these emotions a scandalAre these thoughts hidden from viewAn unfinished story holding us captive

MARCHING ON

It is my life storyThese footprintsFoot prints on the pageOr is it mind printsThat journey is onThese are the land marksWithstanding the windWithstanding the rainIndelible footprintsThere to be immortalizedSit up and listen

THE STENCH OF YOUR LOVE

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Now in the morgueMaggots’ next mealNot a pauper’s burialFlower bedecked casketThe sumptuous mealsThe acrid smell of your love

That question on a pedestalWhile in the storm drains I sleptFrom garbage cans having fedThat ramshackle wheel chairA mangy dog life existenceWhere was your love?

AT IT AGAIN

For the umpteenth timeYou yearn for comfortFoolish comfort in numbersUnrelenting you really arePersistent as a flyYour tongue spews cyanidePoisoning the well I drink fromShameless witch in daylightYour demise a cause for celebration

RAW SEWAGE

For the slave wagesWork off your arseAs a sex slaveThe boss’ sexual gratificationI shed not a tearYour brains you made a stoolFor want of wisdomThat path leads to death

BLINDED BY OPTIMISM

Blinded by my optimismAm I alone in this Beyond these haggard facesBeyond the emaciated bodiesStunted by the slave wagesShell shocked by the brutality

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Beyond the turbulent voices

I hear the chirping birdsThe resonating African laughterThe warmth of the African embraceThe undying hope of my peopleThe sweet scent of our loveThe lustre of summer is here

TREASURES

Keep your dirty trinketsMy soul is not for saleKeep your ill gotten wealthI desire not your waysYou chase after the windsYou reap whirlwindsSoil not my reputationThis dynamite will blow youBlow you to smithereensTeach you well they did notA beggar I will not beOn your alms survivingThe bread of my sweatForever that I will treasureGet thee behind me JudasSomeone else go kissMy pride is my treasureThat the maggots will never touchYour wailing wealth keepWith sycophants surround your egoAn untainted name I treasureEcclesiastes read closelyThis soul is not for sale

OIL AND WATER

Their feet draggingEvolutionaries or revolutionaries

Their masters’ voices echoingStill here the Berlin conference

Champions of gradualismNot caution but cowardice

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To divide and rule lessons holdingNow in full control baas boys

Bridging the artificial chasmsThat time is at hand

REVOLUTION TIME AGAIN

That divine missionBack slider be goneAdvocates of gradualismRevolution is at handThe parasites crushSucking this precious bloodThe leeches squashBash out of memoriesThe rifts they createdOut of this crucible of subjugationReal citizens triumphantly rise

BURIAL

Tug of warDead body-the rope

Vultures feastAt the centre the carrion

The priest armed with hellThe dead body an altar

With putrid speech the politicianThe dead body a podium

Liars not to be out doneEven the wicked are saintly

SACRIFICIAL LAMBS

Hear themThese angry voices

Listen to themThese wailing souls

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See the flowing bloodThe dissenting voices

These emaciated shadowsThe moving graves

That time is nighA fresh dawn looms

THE SOUND OF LIFE AND DEATH

A share for the maggotsA share for the needyWhat about the greedyThis story must be toldRiches for our childrenRiches for this nationFuck your vain gloryVolcanic eruptions these areA shareholder I am notGain the world to lose your soulUnassailable love for my creatorDelivered from the hands of evilThe resilience of my peopleThose ways of old beckonSing this song of joyThe radicals set the trendVoices of liberation resonate

DRINKING INNOCENT BLOOD

They were all thereThieves and murderers

There they mournedMore than the bereaved

That sacrificial lambStone cold in the casket

Honoured in deathThe shitstem* lives another day

The blindness ululatesOblivious of the wickedness

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Listen to their oratoryTraitors dance on the grave

That time is not farThe cleansing is at hand* shit system

NOT YET UHURU

By the British pound Deeply divided

The deep chasmsBlood stained US dollars

Those serious riftsFrancs at the root

Thrown into the frayThe deutschmark

Look at the raw wounds

HARLOT BLOOD

The tell tale signsHarlot blood boilingNymphomania on the riseCan you be sparedNot for domesticationDefiling that institutionThat Jezebel spiritThat mask falls offShame pedestal placedLet me taste the painThe pain of deceptionUnveil the maggotsThis blindness hurts

EMPTINESS

That steel yokeThe bondage of friendshipsWith strings attachedThe pain of betrayal

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The sunshine of acquaintancesThat I shall bask inTaste the bliss of solitudeThe hermit in the crowd

IN DEFIANCE OF LESSONS

Pornography legalizedIn that protracted fightThe diversionary tacticsThe shortages back stageThe hypocrisy exposedWho now throws the stoneIn defiance of those lessonsAdulterers now throw stonesThe logs in their eyesThe speck in others’ eyesShow me the clean onesHypocrites to the marrow

COMPROMISE ABANDONED

Then I will be smoteBlows and kicks of truthReality will be unmaskedIgnorance is not blissAm not for the dung heapThrough the ravages of timeIt will not be time for rose petalsThe prickly thorns out of sightWith mud and spittle give me sightThis farce must now endThe grass trampled by elephantsThe monstrosity of the fight

THE POISON OF TRINKETS

This deep revulsionTheir greed at its rootThe love for trinketsCreating the deep chasmObliterating the social linksI will not dine with themEnough anger to last a life timeThey fed me on loads of it

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Where is the cure for this soulThere is no need for a cureAt the root of it the righteous indignation

RIVER IN FLOOD

Spare me for great thingsThis river is in floodAcross, the children will goThe ominous logs going downstreamThe children must be sparedThis river is in floodSome will drown in itLet us get across safely

DEVIL’ SNACK

It was meant to be that wayDestiny had to hold swayIt was only a question of timeThat blood had to be shedYou went in too deepThat is the way of the mafiaMany will face that dark nightAnother night of the long knivesThe murders become addictiveThat is the securocracy wayThere seems to be no end in sightAn invitation to the devil’ banquetThen you end up as a snack

THE EXECUTIONER QUESTIONED

Tell me how you sleepDo you sleep in tranquility?Do you have succulent dreams?At peace with your creatorNot startled by cold sweatWith blood congealing screamsPiercing your ear drumsTell me how do you sleep?Wailing widows in the backgroundWidowers assailed by agonyThe heart rending wails of the orphansAll those yearning for revengeItching to hang you

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The noose around your shrivelled ballsJust tell me how you sleepAs you continually smite your conscienceHave you ever had a conscience?All those murders and celebrationsYour shrewd manipulation exhibitedCheered on by your pawnsTell me how do you sleep?

LESSONS IN PATIENCE

Life in the cocoonTortoise in the shellInching forwardThe destination to be reached

Chameleon blendingPerfection in the camouflageCaution is not hesitancyThe destination is to be reached

YOUR REDEMPTION

Pages of revelations turnedProfuse apologies madeWhat was it revealed to you?The bared fangs you sawThat was your chanceEvading you for over a scoreWhat are the lessons learntThose gates you tried to openIt was never too lateIt was never mission impossibleDid you wave the magic wand?Did you wipe clean the slate?

ADDRESS TO MY SUBJECTS

I am the sunAt times scorching the earthMaking you die of hungerI am the sunThe moon cannot be without me

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I am the invincible oneCross my path at your perilHungry crocodiles will be fedMany have been disembowelledI deliver lightning blowsShattering all foes to smithereensDeep in your hearts I instill fearA roaring lion is child’s playI am the cat among the ratsRefuge they seek in every nook and crannyI am the alpha and the omegaI am a descendant of CainI will never be my brother’s keeperI am a disciple of MacchiavelliThe blood of Narcissus is in my veinsLessons in brutality I masteredYour blood is my cherished wineYour tears and sweat are the rainMy fields shall always bear fruit

BLAME GAME

Where is the succulenceGraves out of sugarBlame it on shortagesGlaring shortage of loveLife has become too cheapEach one to his or her designsIn the jaws of this roaring lionThis storm of self preservationThat is the bottom line

MY SOMALI KITH AND KIN

Lean and hungry facesSomalis at the South African borderMany miles away from homeWhat home to talk aboutThread bare sweat drenched clothesAfrican children running awayFeuding war lords back homeSee the social dislocationNo time to bury the deadVictims of power hungry monsters

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See the hidden hand in thisWake up from this sickly slumberAfrica wake up now, wake upYour children long for peaceFor good governance they yearnHeal these fractured livesThat African laughter should resonateThis now is peace and justice time

MARECHERA VINDICATED

Now you are vindicatedThe hunger and the droughtThought the chapter was closedThe sting in those wordsThat play – The toiletNow nothing to queue forThis barrenness all aroundPoverty holds us by our throatsShelves full of toilet paperVery few defecate any more!Dambudzo Marechera- that prophetic voice

ANOTHER MOSES

Through trials and tribulationsThrough the foggy timesOver the pits they digOver their wicked snaresThe rough rocky roadYou have been my armourForgiving me for my ingratitudeSome by the wayside fellTo see another day I have livedHere I am Lord to serve youHear my people wailingGive me the strength of MosesFor the confrontation with Pharaoh

DREAMS

Bereft of dreamsDreams bashed by truncheons

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Dreams under the jack bootsJack boots of the philistinesDreams in solitary confinementDreams whimpering for freedomThat is the healing of this nation

A CRUSADE

Kindred spiritsOn hotel balconyIn our blood it runsThat sacred herbDemonised by the shitstemUnthinking adherence to colonialismFree the herbAlcohol destroying the nationEnriching the wicked onesFree the herb now

BARREN WINDS

And the bickering beginsThe moaning a smoke screenThe heavy weight of deceptionDisguised tears of merrimentThe material possessions beckonThe vicious hyena type fightsMaybe the maggots fight tooDin of doubt in my mindGaining the world and losing souls

POLY TRICKS

At the centre the kleptocracyNext to it the securocracyHear the vibrations of violenceThe stealing and the killingThen you think you matterA mere pawn in the gameJust a blind sacrificial lambThat is the way of the cunning

FREEDOM COME

These caged thoughtsThoughts in the dungeons

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Those under the censor’s bootProceeding with this cautionThe thoughts behind the veilYearning for free flightRestrained by the philistines

THIS JOURNEY

Dead rat smell socksSucking my sleep awayBass snoring not out doneThe occasional loud fartThis testing of toleranceOn the tracks the steel wheelsIn pursuit of my dreamsIn pursuit of their dreamsStill on the long journey

A stolen train rideCigarette selling for survivalEven the bootlegging is hereA hot, fierce battle hereStern faced security guardCat and mouse games hereThis journey is long

BROKEN HEARTS

These are not matters rationalLogic has no place hereEven the wise fallThe mighty fall tooEven fools fall in loveMany are the broken heartsSee all these shardsPick the broken piecesThere is another heartAnother heart to be broken

CLEANING UP

Broom thoughts of the pastBroom thoughts of todayWhat about the futureSweeping away dead leavesDead leaves of bad thoughts

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Relationships under the microscopeClearing the path ahead

SEE THE LIGHT

The rape continues unabatedThe darkness there everywhereThe duping must go on , seePretenders to the throne at itThe ubiquitous charlatans, seeThe tragicomedy unfolding stillThis prophet dabbling in patienceThe exorcism is yet to be doneThe rented crowd at it everywhereDefiling that sacred blood againThe cleansing time is at handSee them defying forces of gravityMarching ominously through the streetsOblivious of thread bare clothesOblivious of shoe-less feetThese stories shall guide us

ROOTS OF EVIL

Built on black bloodThat is the foundationToday they still hold onFanning fires of strifeLooting the blood diamondsBlack sweat, tears and bloodIn the glass, steel and concrete housesThat is the root of their wealthBehind all this strifeThat hidden hand at workTo this add the avarice

REPATRIATION

To the four corners of the earthEverywhere the children scatteredDeserting the once warm hearthThe once warm hearth of homeFleeing from the choking ashesEnduring the shocking social dislocationThe hideous xenophobia facingOf home dreaming always

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SOME DRUNKARDS

What is it about power?That leads to defying gravityThat leads to the defying of logicWhen what goes around comes around‘Not in a thousand years’That bandit said soInebriated by his own imageA disciple of Narcissus‘Till donkeys have horns’That was someone elseListen now to this one drunk on power‘Till the son of man returns’What is it about power?

PATRIOTS

Listen to the hollow talkLearn these lessons wellAbout the empty vessels

Listen to these mastersMasters of double speakTheir forked tongues at it

There among the imperialistsDrinking from alien wellsTeaching us lessons in patriotism

Trashing our institutionsThe lice sucking our bloodIt is time for stock taking

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A spark hereThen some smokeA flame thereSee an inferno

Streams todayRivers tomorrowThen someone drowned

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A monkey fell off a treeA hippo drownedSurprise, surprise, surprise

EXPOSED AGAIN

Hypocrisy stares at youThere it is in the mirrorBlame not the mirrorIt is your face that is askewThe mirror is the fairest of them allThose pimples it will not hideMy belly I will fill thenYou will do the same when I dieThat is not the issue at stakePedestal placed is your hypocrisyPedestal placed is your sense of belongingShut your mouth shameless louse

IN THE FORGE

That day of righteous indignationThat day is dawningThat day of freedom is nighThe new lessons are to be learntCall it violence if you willThe slaves have nothing to loseFor too long the chains have been hereListen to the songs of redemption

FLOWING RIVER

The river of time flowsDragging the logs of painDragging the logs of betrayalAt times submerging themAt times just a trickleThen the flood comesThe river of time flowsIn it not one swims twiceThat is the essence of lifeThat too is the essence of deathWhat is behind the mystery of déjà vuAt times the waves of regretThe waves of profound sorrowThe calming waters of bliss

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The river of time flowsThe shaky dams of time cannot hold it

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Down memory laneThrough all that painFor healing this nationThat is the challengeFor truth and reconciliationThose hideous secrets revealThose shallow gravesThe disused mine shaftsFor the healing of the perpetratorFor healing the battered survivorFor the souls of the victimsThis story must be toldThe future demands appeasement

SINGLE TRACK MINDS

They will not listenNever, never, neverFor they will be smoteSteel blows of truth

Their hypocrisy exposedTorrents of brutalityThat they resort toTheir double speak exposed

Followers of NarcissusDrowning in their shameListening to their discordant voicesIgnoring melodies of divergence

HOME, SWEET HOME

Emaciated shadowsThis barrenness

This dry seasonCacti everywhere

Rustling dry leaves

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This whirlwind

Broken dreamsFractured lives

Torrents of despairHarbinger of hope

BLACK SUNLIGHT

Black sunlight on the riseShining in this abyssAbyss of white supremacyIn every nook and crannySoothing breeze of humanityThe cradle of civilisationThis one dimensional worldThe end of emasculation is nigh

BLAZING FIRE

Who will put out this fire?Started by unbridled greedTheir lessons you learnt too wellEven surpassing your diabolic teachersThat avarice you exhibitedRiding on the aspirations of the landlessThose eking a living from the barren soilsThose seeing hope in their emaciated livestockThose out of grim necessity destroying flora and faunaThen you shouted empty slogansGreedily grabbing vast tracts of landThe landless continue to wallow in povertyWho will put out this fire

Egoli - place of gold[ Johannesburg]

Amai – mother

Shitstem –shit system

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