Wednesday 30 September 2015

Dear You ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

Dear: You

Please excuse my pride

when I declare that

You are the other

half to my shadow,

the eyes that glare

into my soul .

You are my virtue

and my conscious,

the other half of

my mind.



As a leaf dances

so carefree

in the warm

crisp air

so does my spirit

when I am with you.



You allow the waves

in the ocean

to elevate so high

they can reach

spiritual eternity.


You give my

soul a face

and my heart

a beat,

a purpose to

go on.



You complete me

And for that I will

always be indebted

to you.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Heartless ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

You slipped through my fingers

like water in a broken glass.

I am heartbroken without you

This sorrow is a lack of vigour.



You were the gift in my life

that was so beautifully rare,

But now that you are gone

I am filled with despair.



My heart is made of stone

that can never be broken.

I am just bitter

as cold as the winter wind.



It is a shattered bottle,

a river that has run dry.



Perhaps it is irreparable

Or lifelessly dead.

Or maybe my broken heart is

like a self-destructing  bombshell

that is will detonate soon.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

Two Poems ~ Luyanda Mbatha

Black Mamba

In my old garden place
A fast, quick slithering creature,
Some are dangerous and kind,
Friendly-like,
Slidery
The camouflage
Spitting and slithering
Black mamba
This fast. friendly, kind and dangerous creature
This was a snake in my old garden place.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Diamante Poem: Day / Night

Day
beautiful, colourful
exciting, playful, interesting
morning, evening, night, midnight
sleeping, dreaming, warming
dark, cool
Night


©  Luyanda Mbatha


***
Grade 8
***


Sevenling (Nostalgia) ~ Shivek Goodoon

I have only 3 things: Fond memories of childhood;
Memories decimated by my own destructive imagination
And a deep desire to relive at least one of them.

I’ve always hated growing up;
My own imagination
And this deep desire that eats away at my soul.

Oh how I wish I was a child once again...


©  Shivek Goodoon


***
Grade 10
***

Monday 28 September 2015

Dark ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

Today

the sky painted the landscape

in shades of black.



The sun was a candle

simply quenched out

by the coming darkness.



The illumination disappeared

and gave the stars

a chance to shimmer.



Yet

we all remained under

a blanket of blackness

that consumed as all.



Thousands of nightmares,

 those that begin happy

 and gain your faith,

 but end in screeching.



The dark, soundless trees

stand sentry above the dimness

 that darts through the vapour.


A precinct of horror.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

Betrayed / Refract ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

Betrayed

You betrayed me,
like a tattered piece of paper
that will never have the ability
to appear the same again,
so is my creased heart.

Your dissipated actions
excruciatingly pierced my soul
with a jovial trigger.

What a perverse web
you have woven
when you prepare to deceive.

You tied down
my spirit and left.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Refract


Love is a prism.
refracting luminosity into
something striking and radiant.

It is an illusion….
A restricted and domineering,
an egotistical, self-sacrificing passion.

Love is the unmarked rain
that sanitizes my slate of despondency
yet miasmas my mind simultaneously.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

Friday 25 September 2015

Lethal ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

Just when all seemed to be alright

and contentment danced

the salsa in circles...



 this dark hand rises above my head

and drives it down again.



Out of the deadness

 of my distress,

 anguish slowly crept its way out,

 as a lethal black spider intertwined

 a weighted, diaphanous web

around the mourning that

clinched me to the casket.



My heart was sick.

This depression was lunacy

I’m insane with grief.



Without you is like living

with a lack of heat.

The fire within me

has been extinguished.



It is a burden

staggered beneath pain.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

The Soul Is ~ Thaveshni Govender

The soul is the most amazing thing

You can't touch it
Nor feel it
Only when gone
Can you see the loss as clear as
Black and white
When alive its like a clear
Blue sky,
It lights up your smile
And makes you my dear love

But then autumn comes
And takes you away
Your kindred spirit
Gone
Like the melody of your life
Days mock like cerulean moons
Nothing to do but remember you
Days as dark as night
Without you here at home

And I wish your soul were
Here still
And not lost to us forever...


© Thaveshni Govender


***
Grade 10
***

Thursday 24 September 2015

You ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

If I could rewind time
just to be in your presence again
I would do it
at any expense it may be.
Even if it were for a moment
or two
I would give anything
Just to see you.
For the pain that you have left me with
is just too deep
That it simply cannot be summarized
in words that can be written.
I miss our everlasting conversations
and your eternal scent.


The struggles that I face
without you every single day
are struggles that I’m sure with never go away.


I miss the way you could make me smile
when nobody else could
and the way you used to
hold me tight
like I was the only one you cherished.


Time will heal everything
or at least that’s what they say
So I continually watch the clock
As time slowly fades away.


I miss those daily, inspirational messages
that I used to receive from you
And the way you could style my hair
And every day that goes on
I wish to see you there.


But now that you are gone
my heart is gone too
because I don’t think
I will meet
another person
who  will ever
compare to
you.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

Farewell ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

Death took you away from me,
like a mosquito;
its extended, insidious proboscis removing
the last bit of life from its prey.

It was not a beautiful death.

Now I am unaided
Like a vacant home, unresponsive windows bitter and blind.
Like a wilted blossom,
shoulder flaccid,
arms limp at sides.

The final page of a diary printed in blood,
The tempest had passed, its last breath disregarded by the calm that chased.

It is not by machinery but by faith you are saved.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***


Now ~ Cheron L'Estrange

Laughing down the street
it's already early and we're late
but I don't want to let you go
you point to the sky,
say you've never seen a shooting star
and I smile at you
-every star in my sky,
reach into the heavens and touch your cheek
Don't promise me 'forever'
I've heard that said too often
-but I hope that now never ends


©  Cheron L'Estrange


***
Grade 10
***

Shattered Heart/ Significant ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

Shattered Heart

If a shattered heart
represents despair
please don’t shatter my heart
because you live there.
For my heart is weak without you
the birds within it no longer sing,
And under no circumstances will it ever be new
with another being.

My heart is like a piece of glass
that you have the power to break,
And although it isn’t precious brass
only you can stop the ache.

Without you I refuse to be free
Will you please come back and let my heart be?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Significant

Today, I feel so significant
as if I have the world at my feet
I can feel the strength running through my veins
And the last bit of trepidation leaving my  soul

I feel inimitable, invigorated and unregimented
No longer will I be intimidated.

Today I am independent!



© Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

Cliche/ Blanket ~ Cheron L'Estrange

Cliché  

I don't want to be
a cliché
making desperate attempts
at individuality
like everybody else
does
        Do we all think this?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blanket

I'll knit myself a new blanket
of lies
and smother in it slowly.
A knitted blanket.
with plenty holes.
and many, many
clashing colours.
-just like the one you knitted me


©  Cheron L'Estrange


***
Grade 10
***

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Cup of tea ~ Cheron L'Estrange

ace bowed
a cup of tea
that's surely more salty than sweet
logic and your calm words
ripping, raging against my insides
though somehow you are peace
in a world full of turmoil that
I myself have created
And I cannot think these things
I must not feel them
Must not cry nor rage
Must not hope
Because if you are a diamond
then I am just a paper box
And for all I am not,
I could never deserve you


©  Cheron L'Estrange


***
Grade 10
***

Why am I Happy? ~ Fezokuhle Nkehli

why am i happy , do you ask ?
well from the breath the Lord has breathed in me
to the sun that shines upon thee
the early morning air that creeps and shows compassion to those asleep
and brings calmness to those risen

why am i happy , do you still dare to ask me?
with my heart filled with overwhelming joy
from those whose names mean happiness and therefore is happiness
the body i dream to see in reality but shall remain pixelated
though when the wind of August stops into the Day of the first
shall my heart arrive from pixels but now to a physical
and greater joy shall be instilled

why am i happy ? i will tell you why .
the two which apart of me to form three
the two which words and faces comfort me to their familiarity
the laughter that bursts so loud that the moon hears and cracks into three
the three musketeers , my ladies, my girls the woman i shalt never leave

why am i happy ?
it is simple i happy because happiness is within me
and brought out by the wonders the Lord has blessed me with

now that is why i am Happy.


©  Fezokuhle Nkehli


***
Grade 11
***

Reckless ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

How can I love you?

when you are so Reckless

in everything you do.



How can I fall deep into your eyes

and look into your soul

when I can sense your predation?

like a lion does its prey



Why do I feel so Vulnerable

When I am with you

You are so hazardous

But yet , when I am with you

I feel out of harm’s way



Please don’t regulate the monsoon!


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

Broken Windows ~ Cheron L'Estrange

what should I do
when the windows to your soul are smashed,
lined in broken glass
and I can't fix them
your salt washed cheeks
are licked by shadows
of shark infested ponderings

lights dim and disappear
wave after wave crashes
through the sea-weed green
of my ocean eyes
and I become
plagued
by a need
deeper than the darkest thoughts
dwell


©  Cheron L'Estrange


***
Grade 10
***

Without You ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

I feel so bare without  you

like dark clouds which ominously cover the sky

but will not release rain to soothe the parched earth of your soul.


as Empty as lake without water



without you I am like a clock

that never moves,



useless...



your sun has vanished

while it is yet another day.

Perhaps you were ready to leave

But I was not ready to say goodbye



I am falling apart

And people will stand around watching it happen,

 but can't do much to make the pain go away.



Senseless…



How do I go on without you?


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

I am Sorry ~ Thandeka Mthembu

Sorry I tried to bring you glee
too bad its not with me
you wanted to be..
Sorry that you never on my mind
Lately
since you lost what I thought I'd find

I am sorry for all the flaws
Sorry for how perfect I
find my imperfections
I am sorry I just spoke too soon
of how I loved..
Loved and adored you
I am sorry you used to provide
me with joy..
Joy that could take anyone to the moon
Sorry I couldn't join the cue
but instead you made me apart of your crew.

I am sorry for all the love
so sweet I tried to give
but all I hold onto now is my bitter treat.
I am sorry for you I could not wait
with each passing day love turned into hate
Sorry for that fateful day
I coughed up the courage to ask
but your silence my smile did unmask..
sorry I had to walk away
because after that day I could not stay
For this I am truly sorry..


©  Thandeka Mthembu


***
Grade 10
***

Two Poems ~ Mohammed Jamil

HAIKU


The orange sunrise
lifts the veil of Night and wakes
Day from it's slumber.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The warning of the dead

The dead whisper and warn the living
longing for what once belonged to them.

However...

The living pay no heed
to the warnings
and they live their lives
making the same mistake
as their predecessors
continuing the cycle
of life and death.


©  Mohammed Jamil


***
Grade 10
***

Two Poems ~ Waseem Asmal

Tanka

A bright burning flame
glows through the darkness
and melts the icy cold
of the Winter's Night.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


ROME

Rome, mighty and at the
height of its power,
ruling the whole world

but now...

Time has seeped into
the cracks and crevices of
the once mighty Rome
breaking it's walls
and leaving it crumbling in the dust.

© Waseen Asmal


***
Grade 10
***

5 Micro Poems ~ Verusha Pillay

Time Stops

He stood, still at the corner shop
waiting...
For what?
For who?
He stood longing...
For what?
For who?
He stood wanting the time lost

Curtain of Fire

It burst!
Burst into a thousand molten stars
They lit the skies in sunset hues
Spewing, sulphurous, soot
Upon an unknowing world

The Predator

Look...
Into the black depths
Of your predator's eyes
See as hunger overtakes
Watch as the scarlet letter of death
Falls, because you are hunted

At Death's Door

His darkened silhouette cast shadow
On my dying life
His sharpened scythe reflected the bleakness
Of my eyes
His voice shouted the call of
Oblivion's abyss

Island Universe

Its circular bound-
Encompasses the stars and moons
Its platinum arms wrap the galaxy into one
It's the grey mists that draw us in
It's the pivot of destiny


©  Verusha Pillay


***
Grade 10
***

A Start ~ Nazeem Khan

Waltzed into the class
At the beginning of the year,
Not knowing what to expect.

As the second term began,
We were forced into poetry.
A whole month long of it.

April was optional, fortunately

However here we are now in
The middle of September, forced
Into poetry, like a minor into chores

Here I am in physics class, not
focused on vectors but rather on
poetry, and writing this very poem.

April was optional, fortunately.


©  Nazeem Khan


***
Grade 10
***

Death Is ~ Thandeka Mthembu

Death is the most hurtful thing.
when it crawls through shades of black
and grey.
It crosses skies Navy blue
off to catch next mornings dew.

As Autumn lingered ,how silent he
came late March with careful
knock on his door for him to open
not ignore...

The thought of cipher tears drown
in that sad melody blown through,
winter's icy cold breeze, still cripples me
When all I'll have then is distant
memories

but all is well
for sometimes one must cross
the troubled waters of my
fair town Ladysmith
And how I wish...
how I wish the fresh gale of
spring will not only blow the tear away
but bring happiness to stay..


© Thandeka Mthembu


***
Grade 10
***

Love Is ~ Shanel Ranjith

Love is the most passionate thing
Like waves of the ocean on a cloudy day
It bleeds shades of cerulean
When he told me he loved me forever
And infinity was our melodious endeavor
But...
Like the Autumn colored leaves
Our passion ignited in cipher
Flaming red
But alas soon changed color
Until it was burning dead
Thorn street pricking me
And I wish with every breath I take
To find my Rose each moment I wake...


©  Shanel Ranjith


***
Grade 10
***

Freedom ~ Methembe Mvelase

Man fights his offspring to prove he's right,
To show off his uncontested might
He murders, he kills, he destroys, he builds,
in his pursuit of a dream he'll never catch.

Imprisoned in a dream he can never escape from
Ever since the day he had came upon
Inspiration for him  to go through the trials
To fight for nothing, to bring his people smiles

They told him "To obtain freedom you will have to fight for it.
You must never turn back, you must be willing to die for it"
He believed what he was told, and did what he must do.
Now freedom he has obtained, and his blood spilled for what's "true".

©  Methembe Mvelase


***
Grade 10
***

A Poem About Physics & Other Poems ~ Minenhle Shabalala

A Poem AQbout Physics

Newton, Einstein, Schrodinger and Pascal
All these men have made my life rather dull.
Ohm, Avogadro, Watt and Planck
You have all made my mind go completely blank


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Minnie

Minimalistic beings of which
Indigenous people are plain to understand
Never to see our faces
Never to hear our voices
In their own central establishment
Empty headed of the civilisation outside their walls

Acrostic Poem


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A Haiku 

Salty
Yet very forgiving
Your tears of apology are accepted


©  Minnie Shabalala


***
Grade 10
***

Ocean's Awake ~ Raisha Ramkhelawan

The sea is crashing onto the shore
Savagely enveloping the bare ground
While the waves roar for more.

The sun hiding behind a tree
Kissing the horizon's bare feet
For only the water to see

The clouds like a mass of cotton candy
For everyone to marvel
Swaying as though it's drunk on brandy.

The passionate love between the water and sky
Come into view
The waves glisten in the moonlight
The sun fading by with a heavy sigh

The ship docks on the harbor
The ocean is awake
While the moon disappears


©  Raisha Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 10
***

Snakes/ Winter is Beautiful ~ Aryan Mootheeram

Snakes

Snakes slither silently
monthly shedding their sins.
Moving on, motive driven
to suffice for the magnificence.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Winter is Beautiful

The trees bare their leaves
exposing their serene souls

Flowers hide encased by a sheath
of warmth and safety

Love is ignited by glowing fires
in the hearth of homes

Winter is so wonderfully wicked
in the most unorthodox of ways

©  Aryan Mootheeram


***
Grade 10
***

When I am Gone & Other Poems ~ Verusha Pillay

When I’m Gone

When I die,
Why would you remember me?
Because my tongue was a knot of ties,
Because my perfection was purely imperfection,
Because my precise, poise was nothing but a fading phantom.
Or because you looked through the muddy, shine of my eyes and saw me,
Because… you heard the roar in the stillness of the forest,
Because you knew the wisdoms behind the gurgles,
Because you truly knew me.
Why would you remember me?
Because I was worth it…


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Springs Breath

The pureness seeps in-
The wondrous, whiteness of wilt is withdrawn.
The crystals demise-
Through the green-blue blooms,
On the suns field of joyousness.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Empyrean

She hugs me,
Wrapping me in her misty arms,
And I look into her cerulean eyes.
As swirling, clouds of bliss pass through,
I see the torment and turmoil that turns them grey,
The reddish-pink of disappearing memories,
To turn to the darkness of night.
Your forceful nature becomes me,
For you are constant.

©  Verusha Pillay


***
Grade 10
***

Saturday 19 September 2015

Your Beauty Does Not Compare ~ Yajna Ramawoothar

What shame does the extraordinary
feel compared to your beauty?
I love and need you like life
needs the delicate rays of sunlight.

Your hands rough, like the difficulties of life
but oh so gentle like the joys and pleasures of life.
I adore and grow towards you like plants do to the sun.
I wilt and saddened away when you not there, like all
plants do when their sun is about to go.

Because your beauty is like sun to me, to powerful
to look at for long, but to wonderful to look away.
I feel iced and cold,whenever you gone.

As the plants do when the sun seems not to be there in winter,
left cold and iced.Every day I adore you like no other,
wanting to face you forever.


©  Yajna Ramawoothar


***
Grade 11
*** 

You ~ Mohammed Moola

Your beauty overwhelmed me,
Your face so gentle,
Your smile so sweet,
Your voice so soft like heavenly melodies to my lobes.

You bring me sunshine when
I only see rain,
You bring me light
In the darkness of the night,
You take the pain
From my suffering,

How is it that your soul is so warm?
In a world so cold,
How is it that your smile resembles
The stars of the night sky.

Tell me what makes you
who you are,
For with your touch and with your smile
You can fill this hole in my mind,
You are my sunshine,
My shining star,
Everything I'm not, You Are!


©  Mohammed Moola


***
Grade 11
***

She is the Addiction ~ Ndabezinhle Gumbi

She is the addiction of my very own thoughts
The light and missing piece to my dark soul
like a beautiful bouquet carefully wrought
The majestic being that makes my life incomplete but whole

Her flaws perfectly placed in their position
The reason that sunlight becomes irrelevant
because she brightens up my day; The intrusion
of my concentration but yet she is so distant

She warms my heart and my thoughts but my body feels cold
Too distant for my hands to touch
Too distant for me to hear her sweet toned,
voice; Too distant for me to do much

I paid love's price, I felt painful and weary
but that would never change because I loved her too deeply


©  Ndabezinhle Gumbi


***
Grade 11
***


Because ~ Sabelo Mfusi

Because no one gets it
No one gets the joy, the indescribable and
incomparable bliss you usher into my life.
Your smile creates wonders far
and above man’s understanding of love.
I give my Happiness to you because…
Well… you generated it.

God is divine and pure and just
As my love for you.
An angel in its purest form
And a blessing in its paramount form
As proof that divinity subsists.

Dilemmas, plights, predicaments
Could never torment Our Love
Our Devotion, Our Intimacy.
Because You Are My Heart,
You Are My Every filament of Happiness.
Because You’re Mine

I LOVE YOU


©  Sabelo Mfusi


***
Grade 11
***

My Angel ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

They say time heals everything
but I assure you that these past few days
have been heartbreaking without you

I miss everything about you
There isn't a second that goes by that I don't think of you
You were my everything

You have shown me so much in this world
but not how to go on without you.
My days feel numbered as I remember laying beside you

Wrap me in your wings and keep me safe
Until we meet again

And remember...
I love you more than the world will ever come to know.


©  Nishka Ramkhelawan


***
Grade 11
***

My Morning Love ~ Phethile Dhlamini

Let the kiss of which I plant
upon the soil of my coffee beans,
Be rooted strongly unto my cup;
As its warmth insulates my heart.

That of which awakens my
morning during the night
as the feeling travels through
the holes of my veins
like a ray of sunshine reflecting light
through a glorious prism.

It is truly the alarming feeling
that scrambles the egg of our innocence
and toasts to our burnt dreams.
Yet, butters us up for the meaning
of pure morning love.

Without quenching the thirst of the
forbidden fruit
Nor moving the anchors
beneath our foot.


©  Phethile Dhlamini


***
Grade 11
***

Love is Stupid ~ Zama Nkabinde

Love is stupid
can't deal with this, bring back Cupid
because in love the same things keep on happening
it's like talking to someone who isn't listening

In love,
you hate and then love again
there's no way I'll be able to take that pain
my eyes just won't be able to handle so much rain
it will even begin to flood
I'll go mad and start cutting myself until I see blood

In love,
you smile and cry
curse and wish to die
I see these young girls committing suicide
only because the one they loved and trusted decided to lie
ignoring it, some tried
scared of pain, they cried

In love you,
you have to choose but have no choice
because no matter how loud you talk, you still have no voice
you try to speak, but you bite your tongue
you try to go but you can't because he'll close the door
you'll stay even though you don't love him no more

In love,
you break-up then make-up
pick up those pieces no matter how badly it shattered when it fell
being with him is like heaven and hell
you hold even if you want to let go...

...and I,
I don't know what to do anymore
I'm happy with the pain (I guess)
I love looking like a mess (I guess)
because loving-you-not is impossible.


©  Zama Nkabinde


***
Grade 11
***

Building Blocks of Love ~ Nobuhle Manquma

Love
is a magical
house. A house built
on the extraordinary kind of
foundation. Cements of the
spiritual, emotional and physical binding
together to form one.
Love is a being living within, waiting to be fed
and grown into something special.
Love is imperfect. Love is God.
Love is You and Me.


© Nobuhle Manquma


***
Grade 11
***

Thursday 17 September 2015

The Weight of Love ~ Aryan Mootheeram

Love used to flow from you
like rain in the amazon,
Abundant

Now your scorn scorches
the plains of my heart
like a drought in the desert
How am I still addicted
to the taste of your love
if I am scorched more
often than Loved?

For love should outweigh
scorn
But for me, that is but an
impossible dream.


©  Aryan Mootheeram


***
Grade 10
***

Pine Trees ~ Nerisha Maghoo

Snow coated pine trees
diamond needles light the aisle,
enchantment filled me.
Midwinter's allure at prime,
arms frolic with gusty tune.


©  Nerisha Maghoo


***
Grade 10
***

Our Meaning ~ Anonymous

As I look into your eyes
I see a thousand angels singing harmoniously
amongst the background of fluttering stars.
This seduces me closer as dark to mysterious night.


And so when you, mi amor, and I
come together in a conjoined definition of love
my heart grieves as he knows it is not infinite.


But sorrow and grieve is destroyed
As I feel your succulent lips upon my cheek
This my love is our meaning of loves peak.


Anonymous


***
Grade 11
***


Stars ~ Nsiki Gwala

Guardian angels.
The kindred of Nebula
Adrift in the sky.
An everlasting beauty,
Hindered by the breaking dawn.


©  Nonsikelelo Gwala


***
Grade 10
***

A Day Spent with You ~ Meleza Jali

I sat staring blankly
at your face,
wondering
thinking
if it was truly you

I sat staring blankly
at your  beastly face

reminiscing the days
days filled pain
My mind cringed
at the thought of you

I sat staring blankly
at your wicked face

The times when I
felt as small as the second to the hour
Why?
You were of no value too

So many questions
few too answers
I sat staring
at your lousy face

And there
you sat, staring
blankly back at me.

©  Meleza Jali



***
Grade 10
***

End & Other Poems ~ Karabo Masinga

END



A friend is whom one knows, likes and trusts.
Its difficult to find a special bond like us.
A best friend is the one friend who is closest to you,
With joy, laughter and mischief you do.
A boyfriend is male friend whom you share feelings for.
Who should to you - love, cherish and adore.
A girlfriend is a female friend whom you are involved with.
Beautiful & graceful like mother earth.
Sadly all this relationships eventually end
Even though you try so hard to mend.
All of this words conclude in E...N...D.
That's how you know it was never meant to be.

A substance with energy and is good.
It has no end and it is food.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



STUDY



Study, study now.
Mother insists I do so.
Studying never!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




SORRY



"Sorry" is a word of sorrow,
Which sometimes the meaning is so hollow.
Apologies will only be accepted
When we know our hearts are protected.




©  Karabo Masinga




***
Grade 10
***

The Last of Us & Other Poems ~ Ivan Mac Donald

The Last of Us


We stood there...cold alone,
Hoping a survivor would save us.
We stood there…with nothing left,
But the hope of a second sunshine.

We stood there…empty handed,
With nothing for us to protect ourselves

We stood there…Not willing to stay,
And live longer with pain.

We stood there…waiting,
For death to claim us back home.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Whitney

Whitney…We used to have so much,
However when you left me
I felt too much pain to live on further.

The pain that shot threw my heart
Never leaves my memory at night.

Everlasting love is what we called it
Yet if it’s everlasting…Why am I alone and in pain




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Love

Strengthening
And full of hope
Your love only makes me stronger




©  Ivan Mac Donald




***
Grade 10
***



Snowflake ~ Verusha Pillay

You are my snowflake.
As you awake
A frozen, fragile, fracture
Entirely unique,
A diamond that will not break,
With satin, smooth, skin
Not feeble or weak,
But, an endless lake
Of wisdom and wistful, wonder
Longing to take a peak.
For you are my strake.
My one and only snowflake.




©  Verusha Pillay




***
Grade 10
***

Sevenling (He Adored Time) ~ Nolulama Msomi

He adored time
Preferred my music on a fortissimo
loved the crisp of a fine apple



However I could not hold a note
but could write him jazz pieces
and smell the pungent smell of his cologne 



but he hated flowers




©  Nolulama Msomi




***
Grade 10
***

Tiger ~ Mohammed Jamil

The striped feline
splashes through the water
freeing himself of all his impurities.

As his orange and black fur
glistens in the sun,
it catches the eye of the Hunter
and the unseen bullet
comes down and slays

the majestic beast.




©  Mohammed Jamil




***
Grade 10
***

Life ~ Waseem Asmal

Life is the most interesting thing.
It sometimes brings joy
yet sometimes brings hardships.
Your life can change in an instant
just as the sky changes from blue to grey.
Last spring was so wonderful
the flowers began to bloom
but now...
Autumn has sunk in
the plants have begun to die
and the sad melody of Autumn lingers in the air.
The beautiful looking Drakensburg mocks
the rest of the world...

And I wish that one day I understand life.



© Waseem Asmal




***
Grade 10
***

Sevenling (3 Elements of Nature) ~ Sayash Rampersadh

3 elements of nature
fire water and air
bound by the mother herself



Do not scream, for it
is rain that nurtures,
not thunder



Choose your words wisely




©  Sayash Rampersadh




***
Grade 10
***

Dream ~ Thandeka Mthembu

Dream...

From my toes in you crept,
slowly working your way up
like and infectious virus
at my lonely hour
my mind was free for you to devour..
right as the young night
wept..

skipping my spine..
you cut open my soul
and spilled my deep dark secrets,
I had mistaken as mine.
With each image you possessed me
Destroying all the norm I know,
setting me free
you took me on a journey...



© Thandeka Mthembu




***
Grade 10
***

I Saw ~ Jivana Reddy

I saw
Her face filled with fear
Never knowing what is happening around her
She takes a giant leap of hope, towards her future
Her lungs suffocating beneath her timid face
her voice mumbling fear of her fate
Her hands shivering the cold away

I saw
Her hair electrocuted with horror
rain shimmering down her cheeks
Her vivid  blue eyes
Shown with great flamboyant, sound of thunderstorms
Her breathless voice, sneaks upon attention
I saw
Her terrified of bereavement

I saw it, pull me right in with her
pain rushed down, tearing her heart
Slashing it open, unable to be treated
I saw
the innocence dripping out of her eyes,
every bit of it staining her face
She's gone -
No more pain.




©  Jivana Reddy




***
Grade 10
***

Just a Poem ~ Anonymous

A plane that flew sky high
was a love so promising,
but the winds in life blew it around
leading to a down spiral,
a lot of denial
and hate filled regret
 The lovers are left regretfully saying:
  like rain I fell for you....




Anonymous




***
Grade 10
***

Sevenling (I Hate Only 3 Things) ~ Gugu Buthelezi

I hate only 3 things
NASA, fair-weather
and rockets.


"Enjoy" being launched,
shoulders cold from summer snow
And going into space.


But nobody really cares...




© Gugu Buthelezi




***
Grade 10
***

The Cherry Blossom & Other Poems ~ Caitlin Struwig

The Cherry Blossom



Blush
Gentle Gust
Pink moons
Bless
Twisted
Dark nooks
Curving, sloping trunk
Papery skin
Glistens.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



We pass our dreams,
And take the other road,
But then nothing is right.
We are the ones who choose,
But we never do what's right.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Their melodic hum,
Their sweet sense,
Their eye for beauty,
Is almost gone.
Because here they lie
Below where they used to fly



© Caitlin Struwig




***
Grade 10
***

Scorched ~ Raisha Ramkhelawan

When you looked at me
With blue eyes so deep
Piercing my soul with a glacier
That is my heart
With a knife forged from the
Fires of your love



When you touched me;
My senses exploded into a flurry of
butterflies
intensifying my love
The flames raging from red to blue
in the fire of your heart
The pieces of our puzzle joined
melted into place by the fires
of our love



I felt a burning in me
For the fire you've ignited
in my heart
has stained my soul with the
scorching flames of your love




©  Raisha Ramkhelawan




***
Grade 10
***

The Mountain & Other Poems ~ Samantha Tindogan

The Mountain


A King stands proudly
Steadfast and silent
His white hair frames his hard-set face
His eyes are cold, calculating
He stands above and watches
Dominant and powerful
Look Closer
You see the scars
Battles with the weather
Look up and see dark skies
Look down and see the trees
How they bow
Low and deep
For their King




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




How peaceful the skies must be
Quiet and isolated
Millions of stars each
In their own little worlds




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




I am just a lowly mirror
My face forever changing
Look into me and I see your thoughts
Dark, twisted
Sweet and carefree
Look into me and realise
I am you
The real you




©  Samantha Tindogan




***
Grade 10
***

Clouds ~ Thaveshni Govender

Clouds
white balls of candy floss
suspended;
in the big blue ocean above us
there is something
in their simplicity
that captivates my mind
so simple
yet so complex,
never the same shape twice.
Clouds
an open window for endless possibilities
and a saviour of the imagination.




 ©  Thaveshni Govender




***
Grade 10
***





Dear Teacher, Please Excuse My Son ~ Amina Moola

Dear teacher, Please excuse my son
For not being there,
His supporters kept him in because of his
Sporting flair!
On Monday the coach called him in for
soccer training,
and on Tuesday he was tired and his
legs were paining!
On Wednesday, Cricket was what
Kept him away,
And he hurt his wrist so he couldn’t
Come on Thursday.
On Friday he tried very hard to be
Present in your class,
But he was given a position in the
Team that he just couldn’t pass!

Dear parent, it is quite fine by me, if
for your son, that is what you chose,
as long as you know, that by planting a Thorn,
you cannot expect a rose!


© Amina Moola






***
Grade 11
***

Death of a Beggar ~ Zilungile Khumalo

It was just yesterday
He asked me for money
I gave him two rand
Knowing it wouldn't last him a day



He walked around the street
Barefoot
Digging deep in every trash can he could find
Looking for something to eat



Avoiding the annoyance of his presence
No one dared look his way
Realizing his "absence"
He decided to make it real


Today he didn't ask for anything
For he had something planned
He decided to end everything
By jumping in front of a speeding truck


The whole town gathered around him
Now they seemed to care
Someone started to sing a spiritual hymn
In between the sound of sirens


As he has died a tragic death
He is no longer alive to search for bread
He will find peace high in Heaven
Which is why I'm glad he's dead.



© Zilungile Khumalo




***
Grade 11
***

It's Just a Thought ~ Sezanele Ngcobo

With blossoms that bloom amongst the leaves
Turned down petals
Her smile.
Her love so pure, a polished diamond
but on a rusted piece of copper
I so ever wonder whether she
would let her heart turn to
what she loves, than what she thinks.



I'd send messages with the stars
for I love dearly and she'd
gaze at the moon and think
about
The beginning of autumn
That's around the corner




©  Sezanele Ngcobo




***
Grade 11
***

Your Love is My Narcotic ~ Luyanda Mazibuko

The sun seems to be in constant competition with you
as it rises so early everyday
But you, Love, your love lightens up all the fires in my heart.
And it is this heart of mine that you take up every part.



God's very own creation, His best art
given to me to appreciate and love with all my heart.
Our souls have fused to become one
and can be separated by none.



Each day I grow jealous of the glass that touches your lips.
The warm mug you hold so tightly on those cold days.



Your love is my narcotic and each day I triple my dosage.
This is why, when I'm with you, i feel so elevated.
You are the oxygen I breathe. Without you, this heart,
heart of mine created to love you, would just stop beating




©  Luyanda Mazibuko




***
Grade 11
***

My Beautiful Maiden ~ Ndabezinhle Gumbi

There stands my beautiful African Maiden,
who proudly walks with her dark complexion,
bearer of my heart and my loves haven,
my mind tells me not to proceed but my heart tells me to take action.



Oh how I hate the complexities of courting,
I have lowered my hearts' guard and swallowed my pride
The possibility of my loves rejection so daunting,
It overwhelms like a dhow in a high tide.



If my romantic deeds be in vain,
then let me hang my heart & head like the branches of a Sleeping Willow
because that strike would cause my heart everlasting pain
and I shall let my heart become a dark window



If my feelings for her be only infatuation,
Then I am Pains' slave, so help me God find my hearts' emancipation




©  Ndabezinhle Gumbi




***
Grade 11
***

A Poem for You ~ Nishka Ramkhelawan

You are the spark that ignites the fire within me,
the air which I need to survive...
I will be yours until the stars explode out of the sky
Not even perfection will do you justice.
Your heart shines...
the light that makes my darkness disappear
You are the sun to my sky,
Yet your smile is as bright as the moon.
You are the rainbow after my storm
when you hold me, it's like a flower holding its dew.
I need you like an angel needs her wings
Or a rose needs the sunlight



You can't choose who you give your heart to
but regardless, I will always choose you




©  Nishka Ramkhelawan




***
Grade 11
***

Then & Now ~ Simo Gabela

Then it was:
Giggles dirty clothes colds on hot days
lollipops dirty hands "don't play in the mud"
uncombed hair tantrums in the mall
"watch out for the boogie-man"



Now it is:
nobody gets me
"mom don't come into my room"
oh damn she loves me back
getting high on life
how did I get home?



I hope I'll be a better adult




©  Simo Gabela




***
Grade 11
***

Forever Mine ~ Sifiso Ngcobo

oh how she walks so majestic
her smile as bright as the rising sun
her eyes shine brighter than moon light
her hair silky smooth
her body beautifully curved as if it was made by a potter
but that is just a bonus to the package
her heart, although it has never been seen, as big as the earth itself
her words comforting like a babies head on a mothers bosom
her mere presence a present to all who are present
when she says I love you
it feels as if the earth has come to an end and heaven lies between the words I
and love and you
my heart jumps and rejoices as my ears embrace the words
my mind at ease when I realise that she is forever mine




© Sifiso Ngcobo




***
Grade 11
***

Broken Heart ~ Kashmira Mahadew

For every broken heart impaired with rejection.
Shattered into irreparable pieces of deceit and lies.
This is for every broken heart that looked long at love
but love never looked back...



Oh, this is for every broken heart that bears the shame
of falling but not being caught.
The heart which beats in the rhythm of sorrow.
Whose emotions were handled like a deck of cards
- Gambled...



Just remember, broken heart, life is beyond roses and kisses.
Life is living and living is breathing.



© Kash Mahadew




***
Grade 11
***

Time ~ Kaylin Bhawanibheek

If I could save time in a bottle,
The first thing that I would do,
Is save every day, until eternity passes away,
Just to spend them with you.



I'd cherish you, Love, as I always do,
Simply because you complete me,
As the snow does the winter and the sun the summer,
You are everything to me.



We will grow old,
And time will pass hurriedly,
That I know.



I just want you to always remember that;
To me your beauty is infinite,
And I'll always love you no matter what.




©  Kaylin Bhawanibheek
With words quoted from Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce




***
Grade 11
***

Generation Change ~ Nontobeko Mathebula

There is an evolution,
a change in the atmosphere,
a shaking at the core of the earth
what was before no longer exists.



No longer are people bound by
the chains of their forefathers
nor do they succumb to their rules



A new generation has risen
from the soil of Africa
A generation of strength and power
This is Generation
Change.




©  Nontobeko Mathebula




***
Grade 11
***

Sonnet in 13 Lines ~ Grace Smythe

Deep, deep is thy tender love that springs out
from a time ticking true heart,only
two wrists combined does it hold immeasurable
amounts of the sweetest untouchable substances.



The pure love that fills my heart is all
for you. This love is an ever-growing evergreen,
sprouting and blossoming daily. It's rooted steadfast
in the two wrists combined heart of mine.



And so always know that this love is eternal
love, love that will never leave you.
It is true , it is pure, it is forgiving.



And that is why I will always love
Be it year, be it season, be it month or day.




© Grace Smythe




***
Grade 11
***

The Beat of My Heart ~ Yash Mahabir

Counting every second of the day
I am dying to see your face,
Wishing you were at the door
Because I can't take another minute more.



I think of you often,
Never missing a day.
My love is forever,
and always sent your way.



Your name, across my Heart,
written in Gold, this permanent mark.
Love engraved is what we are,
Beyond words, Our Love is art.



Hurts so good, Love and Pain,
when all fades, you remain.
Permanent you leave your scar,
when you gone, you never far.



All over me. Mum,
Your Signature.



© Yastish Mahabir




***
Grade 11
***

New Found Faith ~ Siyabonga Dlamini

Seven perplexing hours, daily do we endure
Long journeys, hard work do we apply
Exasperating chases given to seven elusive symbols
As if we give our souls



Tribulations and heart breaks our minds evoke
Others die of the pressure
Others turn to the rope
Some never lose hope

New forms of worship and endless sacrifice
Financially, intellectually do we give our lives
A lot may be lost, but never goes to waste
Because school to us is like a "New Found Faith"




© Siyabonga Dlamini




***
Grade 11
***

Like a Visionary ~ Anonymous

Like a visionary
you stepped out of my sweetest dreams
no words in a dictionary
could describe how your eyes shine brighter than beams.



Like the moon holds onto day
your love holds on to me
like the leaves fall in may
I fall for you... if I may say



I love you like the stars
love the moon
I long for you like the
sea longs for the shore



you are my God
and I am your nun!




Anonymous




***
Grade 11
***

The Greatest Treasure ~ Michaela Tommy

For some it is the comfort of presence
For most it is the enjoyment of being
All those of every generation, all those descendants
Brought together by feeling


The sorrowful departure of a loved one
Brings together those who wish him farewell
Those that spend time to enjoy the sun
Reminisce in stories to tell


Sorrow and joy mix the colour of the sky
As angels open the heavenly gates in welcome
We part to meet so this is not goodbye


In spirit or distance we will always come
Family is a treasure to hold deep in your heart
Always know that we shall never part.




©  Michaela Tommy




***
Grade 11
***




Tuesday 15 September 2015

The Imperfect Freedom ~ Nsiki Gwala

Leaves rustle in the Autumn breeze,
Following the call of the wild.
First, peacefully floating and drifting
On a rivulet of cold air.

Then, soaring and gliding - flying;
Cutting through the air, rising,
Reaching unknown heights.
Freedom beckons from afar,

Yet he stands behind bars.


©  Nsiki Gwala


***
Grade 10
***

The Nature of My Happiness ~ Nsiki Gwala

Perhaps it lies in the serenity of the still waters
that life stirs deep in the depths
of my soul;

Maybe it's the silence echoing from the ancient mountains
that peace usurps the toils
of my spirit,

Or the gentle flow of distant streams
that happiness rakes the leaves
of my melancholy...


©  Nsiki Gwala


***
Grade 10
***

The Simple Words ~ Kimaal Ramdharie

The simple words to describe love can be as follows.
If roses were red and violets blue
The love I have for you is like a dove on a honeymoon.
My heart bleeds for you, when you walk pass.

Those are words built fit
for a blind man or a fool.
Love is a phenomenon that can never be explained
in this mortal life.
We have managed to see that love binds
us as a human being

Everybody has found their true love
but pure love is aching to be discovered.
in this worthless life, we have made do with material things.
Perhaps we live a material life.

These words are still built for a blind man
or a fool
but love is still this one phenomenon
that can never be explained

but alas, The simple words to describe love can be as follows
if roses were red and violets were blue
the love I have for you is like a dove on a honeymoon
but maybe... just maybe
these words are for a simpleton like me.


©  Kimaal Ramdharie


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Jumping Jack ~ Kristen Radford

When I am excited
I compare myself to a jumping jack ,
just waiting to jump out of my little box ,
to pass on the excitement of seeing the world .

I get excited when ,
I get out of my little box,
when I express who I am
and not care about the world around me and
JUST BE ME !


©  Kristen Radford


***
Grade 9
***

The Night ~ Kristen Radford

The night I will always regret
The night I would want to forget

The night where he asked me dance,
The night I just gave him a chance

The night he held me to the ground,
The night I felt jail-bound

The night he hurt me, hurt me so much
The night I thought I could trust

The night he was ape,
The night, regretful night, I was raped



***This poem is not autobiographical but inspired by the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

© Kristen Radford


***
Grade 9
***
             

A Night to Remember ~ Kylie Spencer

In that night, in that world
Reigned a false sense of security
An innocent thought that all people were good
And free of impurity

In that night, in that completely different world
I believed in the light
But now I am drowning
In the shadows

In that night, everything changed
The way that birds flew
The way bees buzzed
The way trees grew

The way I smiled
The way I laughed
The way I was still innocent
I was still a child

No longer am I whole
A beast crawls within
A monster in my gut
I think it’s going to win

Inspired by the novel, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson


©  Kylie Spencer

***
Grade 9
***

Inside My Mind ~ Mduduzi Msibi

Inside my mind
You will never find
A more common lie
Than ‘I am fine.’
For you see,

Inside my mind
I see large lines
Which truly define,
The way I live my life.

Inside my mind
I try and hide
From all the cries
That are wondering why
I refuse to cry.

Inside my mind
I see no light
Only endless fright
That I hide out of sight
Inside my mind.

©  Mduduzi Msibi


***
Grade 8
***

A Praise Poem ~ Nokubongwa Zwane

I don’t know what it is
But it feels like we’re drifting away
Our smart phones have made us blind
The music has turned us deaf
And knowledge has made us dumb
Our faith is being stolen away from us
Slowly

We have forgotten who created us
He, who gave his all for us
He, who will forever love us
Yes He, who shall never forsake us
Our faith is being stolen away from us
Slowly

There’s that time of day
When we see we’ve lost our way
But because of our peers
We forget straight away
Who is he again?
What did his son do that day?
You see…
Our faith is being stolen away from us
Slowly


©  Nokubongwa Zwane


***
Grade 9
***

Nature's Only Friend ~ Bheka Madide

I am a tree,
In a light and promising forest.
October.
I am lonely and isolated
I have powerful roots
I am a mighty oak…

I help people with their problems
So they feel rested and relaxed,
I have no need for sparkling accessories 
Because they make me feel fake, 
I have my sunlight and things keeping me alive.
I am shielded by my leaves
I am a tree.

©  Bheka Madide


***
Grade 9
***

Monday 14 September 2015

How I Miss You ~ Vuyani Ntshingila

On days like this I sit
Sit and wonder where you are,
How did I ever let you go,
I was foolish and I let
People deceive me,
Oh how I miss you,

You were the sunshine of my life,
The queen of my heart,
How did I ever let you go,
I want to see you again,
Hold you feel your soothing touch on my body,
But I guess my pride deceives me,
Oh how I miss you,
Now that you are gone,
I realise what I had,
I realise what my ego took away from me,
Oh how I miss you.

©  Vuyani Ntshingila


***
Grade 9
***

Coldness in my Heart ~ Sinelisiwe Mkhasibe

I am ice
In a winter’s night
June
In dark, dark and cold place
I am cold
So think twice before touching me
I am ice
I am cold
 
I write out my emotion through poems
I have no need of love
Because it hurts me    
I have my music
I am shielded by thoughts
I am ice


©  Sinelisiwe Mkhasibe


***
Grade 9
***

Anger ~ Khayelihle Majozi

I am  a bull
Winter's Month
Cold and Dry
June

I am heartbroken
Eating ice-cream from the outcome
Of disappointment
I am a bull
I am a raging truck

Music just might be the only cure
I have no need for love

I have my life
I am shielded by my horns
I am a bull


©  Khayelihle Majozi


***
Grade 9
***

If I Should Die ~ Luyanda Buthelezi

IF I SHOULD DIE, THINK ONLY THIS OF ME
IF I SHOULD DIE,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVED
EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN’T SPEND MUCH TIME TOGETHER

IF I SHOULD DIE,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I CARED
EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN’T SEE EYE TO EYE

IF I SHOULD DIE,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE LOVE I HAD
FOR YOU WAS IMMORTAL
NOT EVEN HERCULES COULD BE ABLE TO BREAK US UP

IF I SHOULD DIE,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU
WERE THE SOURCE OF MY HAPPINESS
IF I SHOULD DIE, THINK ONLY THIS OF ME.
                               

©  Luyanda Buthelezi


***
Grade 9
***

Emotion ~ Nokwanda Thabede

The scariest thing
About letting yourself go
Is letting people know you’re emotional
And when you cry every night
And wish you would die
Where are they
Telling you
To hold on,
Stay strong?
No where.
They are no where to be found.
No they don’t make a sound.
So when they come around
In your glory days,
They don’t even
Recognize your face.
It’s a shame to say
They just want your fame.
But they don’t even know you’re emotional.
Cause you keep it in so they don’t win.
But when
That one person
Comes along
And sings you
A song,
Let them in
Don’t let them
Move on.

©  Nokwanda Thabede


***
Grade 9
***

A Bright World, Darkened ~ Charne Williams

The world suddenly dark
No protection, no hope
The idea of good people gone
The thought lost
In that night, a dark world began
The dark dwelled within and around me
Every bright light darkened
Every smile to a tear
All laughter to a painful screech
I try and reach, reach for the light
I couldn’t see it, it wasn’t bright
It pulled me back, it is a monster
I am a monster
I am no longer free.


©  Charné Williams



***
Grade 9
***

Life ~ Mangaliso Xaba

Life is not always fair unless you make it fair.
Life brings you pain, joy and sometimes an affair.
Life will make you dare and leave you to stare.
If life brings you ups and downs, just don’t give it cows and clowns.
In life you must always learn not to frown.
Life is not about caring a knife thinking that you’ll be a knight.
Life is about going to school and trying to be cool too soon.
In life you have to learn to have Respect, Dignity and Integrity.
So you can live a life full of prosperity.


© Mangaliso Xaba


***
Grade 9
***

Sunday 13 September 2015

I am a Lost Soul ~ Matthew Opperman

I am a lost soul
It's an Autumn day
On a cold and wet
May
I am lost
I can't help, but to stare into my love's eyes
Sadly they fail to meet mine,
They seem to penetrate right through me
I am a lost soul
I am an empty cage

I've opened up the gates to my heart
Which was once protected
By the reinforced bars beneath my chest
Only true love was to enter,
But she knew how to shape shift.
I have no need of protection
As it was already to late, I was vulnerable
I am a lost soul
I am an empty cage.

We are all on the search for love
But not me, I've felt the pain it has caused.
I have the scars to prove it
It's a pity no one notices, they are all ignorant
But I shall keep my scar hidden,
Far from civilization and from those
Who judge as it has suffered enough
I am a lost soul
I am an empty cage.

I have myself and my thoughts  to keep me company
I think of where I could have gone wrong,
I'm going insane but I will be shielded
By what's left of my rusted cage
Even though it's duty to protect is now relieved
For the treasure has already been stolen
I am a lost soul
I am an empty cage

And a lost sole is soon forgotten
And an empty cage has lost its value and is too soon discarded.


©  Matthew Opperman


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Tree ~ Sakhiso Mabizela

I am a tree,
In winter
The cold freezing 
July
I have no leaves or dreams
No colour and no life
I am a tree
I am weak
BUT!!!
In spring,
The warm and lovely
September
I will blossom with
Love, life and colour
Shielded by my dreams.
I am a tree
I am strong…


© Sakhiso Mabizela


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Sunset ~ Kelda Maitland

A summer`s day
In a colourful and blossoming
August;
I am happy,
The thought of the beautiful ocean horizon
Freedom is being able to walk on the beach
With smooth sand rolling over your feet.
I am a sunset,
I am an ocean.

I've made great memories,
So many memories taken with a camera in my mind,
But it is all in my memory.
I have no need of hate;
Haters don’t have fame.
True friends are granted to bring out the best in you.
I am a sunset,
I am an ocean.

Don’t talk of angry,
It just cause pain;
within the brain.
I am a sunset,
I am an ocean.

I have my music
And my happy memories to protect me;
I am shielded by my confidence.
The ocean calms my soul.
Pride and joy.
I am a sunset,
I am an ocean.

And the sun sets with you;
And the ocean awaits you.


© Kelda Maitland


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Beast ~ Hassim Asmal

I am a beast.
In the deep dark green
beautiful forest.
Summer.
I am fearless.
I destroy anything that comes in my path.
I am a beast.
I am an animal.

I deal with my emotions by looking
into the night sky seeing the moon's light.
I  have no need of enjoyment and entertainment.
because I create it.
I have the beauty of nature to console me.
I am shielded by the vast forest.
I am a beast.


©  Hoosen Asmal


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Lion / Rugby ~ Sphelele Khumalo

I am a Lion


I am a lion
A summer's day
In the reserve
February
I am courageous
An extrovert but lots of roars still unheard
I am a lion
I am a beast


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


RUGBY


Rough ,crunch ,ooh aah , smash
Ouch , that's what makes it so fun
Step, Bounce, Goose
See if you going to catch me
Pace, Pace, Pace, Pace
Try Time
Victory


©  Sphelele Khumalo


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Boss ~ Abdullah Omarjee

I am a boss
strong as the wind
as cool as June
I am cold
I am alive
Fearlesness destroyed anything in my path
I am a boss
I am a king

I sleep away the pain
I have no need of fame or friends
because I am me

My shadow is my only friend
I am shielded by my inspiration
I am a boss


© Abdullah Omarjee


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Lost Soul ~ Shakeel Hoosen

I am a lost soul
In winter,
During July I'm hopeless,
Watching the lonely skies feeling lost in the world,
I'm depressed,
I am a lost soul.

I throw tantrums,
Thinking about the future
Wondering where I am in life,
I have no need for happiness
I am shielded by my fortress of loneliness
Because I'm alone,
Where am I?
I am a lost soul.

© Shakeel Hoosen


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Dancer ~ No'cebo Ntuli

I am a dancer
in summer in the lily garden
warm December.
I am in gain
because I am winning.
I am a dancer.
I am a ballerina.

I practise and practise
therefore I have no need of pain.
I am happy,
I have music to console me
and I am shielded by my radio.
I am  a dancer
I am a ballerina.



© Nom'cebo Khethelo Ntuli


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Lion ~ Ameen Kader

I am a lion
strong as the wind
as cool as spring
I am brave
I am alive
Fearlessness led me to where i am now
I am a lioin
I am a predator

I sleep away the pain
I have no need of fame
because I am a King

My shadow is my only companion
I am shielded by pride
I am a lion


©  Ameen Kader


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Flower ~ Aviksha Sewsanker

Free Wallpaper



I am a flower

In the bright and sunny spring,                                                                  

September

I am eager

To see what comes next.

I am a blooming, colourful and unique flower

I am the beauty.



I have no need of fear,

Because I have family and friend near

I have my protection

I am shielded by my happiness

I am a flower.


©  Aviksha Sewsanker


***
Grade 9
***

I am a Flower ~ Sadiyah Sader

tumblr.com


I am a flower

And its summer,

March

I am happy

I am a blossoming, extravagant and unique flower

I am a flower

I am a living soul

I have no need for sadness

Because happiness is never ending

I have my friends and family

I am shielded by love

I am a flower



© Sadiyah Sader


***
Grade 9
***

Saturday 12 September 2015

Nsiki Gwala ~ Two Poems



The Plunge

The waterfall draws near.

Standing on the edge of destruction:
My sanity beaten and weary.

The waves hath
brought me here.
The torrents hath
dragged me
to the
ends of
the
earth.

A cold breeze pricks my fragile skin -

         And I plunge.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Disappointment

A heavy heart
filling with rivers
of self-pity.

A weary mind
unhinged by memories
of pain.

Dark, heavy eyes
overflowing with tears
of sorrow.

Days of hope
murdered by a second
of sad reality.



© Nsiki Gwala


***
Grade 10
***


Untitled ~ Pryaska Goorhoo

photo credit: Fiery rose via photopin (license)


The hunger of pain is addictive.
It may not always be present,
But once it strikes,
It’s like a rose into the fire-
Beautiful but dangerous to pick out again.
Once it leaves you,
You are never the same again-
Bruised, burnt and battered badly.
The desire of it, however, still burns within us all.
We may be ignorant of this simple fact,
But we do crave that disappointing,
Hurtful
And torturous agony.
We may or may not know what we are actually walking into-
A simple obstacle or the most complicated trial of our lives.
We have that glowing hunger within us all and it is just going to grow
Until it burn us completely…
Turning us into small particles that only float in the air…


© Pryaska Goorhoo


***
Grade 10
***

(Sevenling) The Sun Declares ~ Nsiki Gwala

photo credit: Red Winged Blackbird via photopin (license)


The sunrise declares yet another day.
Birds' songs break through the silent dawn.
Crowds scatter across the lonely streets.

A conversation pulses: burdens that need be borne,
Dreams denounced by impossibility,
Promises whispered by the near future...

While History drowns in oblivion.


© Nsiki Gwala


***
Grade 10
***

Didn't Know I was lost ~ Nolulama Msomi

photo credit: Fresh Air via photopin (license)

I always knew a part of me was missing,
Lost,
In turmoil
I didn't know they were
In search of me either

I didn't know I was looking for me either

But I discovered that the quest
Was not of nor for myself
It was for a new air to inhale; less toxic

I guess the trail
I left behind got erased though
To ensure I that never...
.....looked back



© Nolulama Msomi


***
Grade 10
***

Night ~ Pryaska Goorhoo

photo credit: Lake Reflection via photopin (license) 


Night ~ A Waltz Wave

Night-
Absence
Of
Daylight.
Soaring stars
Gliding
Along
Swiftly.
Around us
A sparkly page,
Nothing more
But a mere
Sight.
Blackness,
Never ending
Until
Bright
Daybreak
Comes…


© Pryaska Goorhoo


***
Grade 10
***