This Pen

We do not pray without our hands having burnt in the fire, we are graciously capacitated and we know that we will not survive when the real work is not done. From early, we are told about the pen & that not all of us will carry it.
We tell our stories with this pen & we are humbled by its beginnings & history in this homeland. Although what we know & what we do slowly becomes assimilated in, with unknown, unnatural elements, we do know where to look & how to feel about our culture, customs, norms & traditions.
We cry to believe

We Try.
We are positive & we sit, with this pen & tell of our mistakes & misfortunes.
To those who understand thereafter, we say: stand and be bold in carrying out the messages from this pen. In this way, some will carry the pen for others. Always.
We are frustrated about this & that, but we do not throw the towel to someone else to do the works of this pen.
We realise, we thank & we look towards our education & foundation for choice & freedom, which will entrench the further transportations of this pen.

Even in dire, strange circumstances, we do the hard work & borrow from our neighbours what we need. We reach out.
In this movement of change & cold condition, how do you confront whilst seated in between the sharp teeth of the shark? How do you release the pain & anger whilst diving in a sea of crocodiles? When others gun, bomb & cheat, how do I trust in the memory & messages of this pen?

The difference of this pen jumps the gun with its knowledge & power;
Prophesizes to the force & the wild-fires of bombs & writes to show me what lies ahead in the future.
It is the eyes & wisdom of this pen that will give us the strengths to restore & build. The alphabets of this pen make us ready to see who we are. When we are sure about the power of this pen, we are cozens, brothers, family & the bearers of nations to come.
We are sure, with this pen.

By Nomfusi Xinindlu

The collection: Whispers of the day & Monologues of Today