Tale of the Disillusioned Nation ~ Sphelele Majola

We have entered the night to tell our tale
The tale of a disillusioned nation:
the cellphone orientated,
brand-wearing,
SWAG-obsessed generation.

The ones who hide behind status updates
and the most recent trends,
in an attempt to feel important,
to feel loved and appreciated.

But, this kind of attention is temporary and fake.
Sure, it gives momentary satisfaction
and, somehow, happiness. It also has
a lifespan that is outlived by a fruit fly.

They go through all of this, just to have
disappointment, pain and depression
as the fruits of their labour,
and barely achieving anything.

Yet through it all they still persist,
work harder to make their mark.
Whether it's for the right reasons
or the wrong ones.

At the end of it all, what really matters
is not the reason behind their pursuit
but the fierce determination to keep on pushing
regardless of their circumstances.

Their 'never-give-up' attitude
is a trait that most have all but lost
to slow progress and
difficulties on their journeys.

This tale shines a light
on those who keep fighting against all odds,
never giving up,
with a greater and more worthy purpose in mind.

This is for our modern day gladiators
whose past is mightier than the sword.


© Sphelele Majola

***
Grade 11
***

We Have Entered the Night ~ Philisiwe Mavundla

Of how thankful we are to our descendants
that they have carved our path
changed our future
and rearranged our stars.

But you have taken that away from me
told the past as my story
and refused me the right to be
reborn.

We are a new chapter
although still separated by stereotypes.
Stereotypical you.
Stereotypical me.
That is not who we want to be.

We want to be engines which
drive our world to a new beginning.
This is the big responsibility
and I tell you
we fear failure.



© Philisiwe Mavundla

***
Grade 11
***

We have entered the night to tell our tale ~ Ayanda Sithole

Where betrayal is breaking just another nail
A generation that has fallen into a completely new lane
Where cans and bottles can suddenly heal pain

People wearing different masks each day to fit the mood
Where the only beauty is really nude
Love overpowered by lust
And fitting in is a must

Where one's misery
Is another's victory
Where one's open doors of happiness
Are shut closed with giant locks of bitterness

Maybe this was not such a good tale after all


© Ayanda Sithole

***
Grade 11
***

We Have Entered the Night ~ Viyanka Moodley

We navigate our lives
Desperately searching for unknown territory

Meandering lanes of treachery and deceit
Where wealth is prioritized and righteousness, the enemy
Health is secondary to life's pitiful pleasures

As uncertainty develops
Man's existence
We look, we wonder

We hope, we expect
Glossing the reality
We dare not admit

For fear of the truth
We refuse to accept

Our disastrous existence
Remains ours to decide!



©  Viyanka Moodley

***
Grade 11
***

Silent For Too Long ~ Natasha de Jong

We've been silent for too long. We plead.
We. The different. Hiding away.
Listen to us.
In our minds we no longer exist.
We.
It is our empty souls
our empty souls longing for something to fill the void.
We do not choose to feel like this. It's the way of life.
Stop hiding in the dark. Come out!
Our tears are falling watering the outside, draining the inside.
Fellow students, parents, friends.
it is written on white paper
yet, our generation is still dying.
People, we have cried for help.
People, stop walking around with closed eyes, closed hearts.
People, open up!
Listen to us, look at us, help us.
Look into the hollowness of our eyes.
The darkness of our souls.
Listen to us. We plead.
We have entered the night to tell our tale.
We hope you have heard us.
I hope you have heard me.
We are among you, we sit next to you.
Your sisters, brothers, friends, classmates.
Do not let us fade, no - not again.
Save us. Save our tears.
Save our soul. My spirit.
Save me.



© Natasha de Jong


***
Grade 11
***

We Have Entered the Night to Tell Our Tales ~ Sibongile Maseko

We have entered the night to tell our tales

For we have longed to chant
our secrets to an audience we relate to
but we could not bear to do so
in the presence of the scintillating sun.

We have entered the night to tell our tales

Tales of the shameless;
tales of the rebellious;
tales of the demented;
tales of the insipid
in their eyes.

In the eyes of the morally upright
we bring shame.

And so

We come together
to comfort
to understand
to listen
to accept one another
because we are alike

We have entered the night to tell our tales.



© Sibongile Maseko

***
Grade 11
***