Detours No Derailments: Sentiments of African Poetry

By Thembelihle Kheswa

Poetry is a soaring theme that carries lifes ride, this book covers all themes
ardently: refi ned, honest, love, hurt, informative, political, and insightful and
wisdom that may be gained in this journey of life.
With each of our pathing encounters we have to accept what life had and still
has in store for us. For our entire mistakes one must accept and acknowledge
trials and misfortunes. In this life time we are all the middle of our ladders,
we mustnt be afraid of nor fall for we may detour but I wont derail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Sep 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781453599327

Thembelihle Kheswa

If it wasn’t not for the dusty grounds of Umsinga in Northern Natal, this prodigiously talented young women, who has urge herself as a pioneer that is bringing poetry, and spirit of Africa to the entire globe. I have lived a challenging, resent less life, infused with love, loss, trauma of being in a car accident, violence, abuse, and emotional distortion brought me in between these lines. I am amazed that pain, confusion, hurt, betrayal, injustice plotted along the way brought have such a marvel. I serve as a trainee chartered accountant that has studies and graduated and still studying to path my horizons. Writing is where I found my mojo!

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Thembelihle Kheswa.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2010915540

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4535-9931-0

ISBN: Softcover      978-1-4535-9930-3

ISBN: Ebook           978-1-4535-9932-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Detour No Derailments

I Am of Purpose!

The Bell Rung

I Am Blessed

My Bloom

My Quest

Beneath a Tear, a Smile

Learn

For I Will Shine!

I Am Coming

I Crawled

I Rise

Milestones

The Dawn of Africa

Self-Declared

Who Will for Me?

Love

Ode for My Father

Scuffed!

Stiletto

De-shelled

My Comb

My Hymn

Shine

Unleashed

Careless

My Perplexed Goodbye

My Angel

Happiness

Showed Up

Smile

For You I Will

The One I Love

What Is Love?

My Rock

In You

Dream on Dreamer

Dreamer

Master

In My Fist

Black Rose

I Have Seen

Ode for My Mother!

This Ability

Go Winner

Tang Clan

Utter Shhh!

Dash of a Tear!

Lighter

Decide Dear Child!

Gobsmacked

Listen

Verskilik Jy Is Weg Maar Ek Is Hier

Sisterly

The Day

Solicit

Purity

Prey of Regrets

Amazing

Nor Wearies nor Worries

Poet’s Pun

Dust, Ashes, and Omens

Msinga Clan

Reclosed

The Coming of Rain

My Cool Running Stream

Pain, Negligence, Arrogance, and Death!

Letters of My Broken Heart

Clock Ticks!

Stranger, Stranger You Posed Me

Blaah! Blaah! Blaah! The Jargon, the Lingo, and Trivia!

About the Author

My Quotes

Dedication

In the loving memory of my father Lindokwakhe Muziwempi P. Kheswa, the Kheswa family members that we lost in 1989 during the war of parties in Pietermaritzburg, Musa Kheswa, Zoe Kheswa, Masheli Kheswa, Nhlanhla Kheswa, my grandmother, and grandfather.

To my late grandmother and grandfather Sikhakhane, Kheswa and Mncube family, my uncles and aunts we lost along the way.

This is also dedicated to the Msinga clan; it’s not where you come from, it’s where you are going that defines you.

To the most beloved mentor, that is the late Hlengiwe Ngubane. I always thought life is hard labour until you come along and showed me that it’s worth a walk; it doesn’t reward victims but rather those who go out there and claim their share despite their pain and circumstances.

To my late friends Busi Jiyane, Busi Lembede, Nyoni, Nomkhosi Mhlongo, Makhosi Shabalala, Mbali Mndaweni, Mpume Chamane, Arthi Somfongo, Qondi Buthelezi, and Nceba Zimu. I bless the day I met you unfortunately within the blink of an eye you were gone; I hope you are in a better place.

To my son Hlomlokuhle Smnikiwe Siyanda Kheswa; when I discovered you, I found myself, the one I live for, the one that light up my life, the smile pick me from every dusty situation I encounter you make me whole again.

My dear son as long as you live please note dreams are for those with the vision big enough it limits them not, for those that have extra ordinary imagination, they get extra ordinary lifestyle.

This special line goes to the one that hold my centre piece Dr. M.C. Hlapa, i say let this language we share speak for itself.

Acknowledgements

I will like to thank the Lord, my God and Saviour, who has been with me since day one; you trailed me because you trusted the strength you exerted in me. I know you never lived me or forsake me as long as I shall live you are worthy of my praise.

I will like to thank my mother Fikile Kheswa for her inevitable love, incomparable and mostly irreplaceable. You have been a perfect gift for me, for your strength that you share with every obstacle; you have been a real trooper in our lives. I, Mabongi, Njabulo, mthunzi and Nomkhosi, we thank you for your blissful life you are sharing with us.

I will like to give a giant thanks to my family Kheswa, Mncube, and Skhakhane. I thank my sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Mama Nokthula, Mama Nokwanda, and Ndileka together we stand and together we shall part.

I will like to thank Christian poetry for the numerous nominations of my poems you made me discover my writing skills.

I will like to thank Newcastle Advertiser for publishing my poem in 2005 and choosing it as the best; you polished the confidence in me.

To the Natal Witness, thanks for nominating my story for the semi-finalist category in 2009, which made me, find me in writing.

I will like to pass my gratitude to Ukhozi F. M. and Ilanga Langesonto thanks for believing in my work; Bongani Mavuso, Mr Wela Shutter, and Shooter thanks for the role you played.

To all UMzinyathi writers I know we are coming very slowly; we have a common vision and our dreams are the same, nothing can stand in our way; let get our writings on the line.

Durban University of Technology in Pietermaritzburg for choosing all my work to use for your drama sessions.

KZN music house; thanks for assisting me through with my script for the play Ezasemkhumbane Woman, March 1956, Baba Ngema I thank you.

To my extended