Halala all you wordsmiths! FunDza is so proud of our Fanz writers! We are delighted to showcase this poem by one of our talented young writers to celebrate this wonderful avenue for self-expression. Good poetry can be a great mental and emotional pick-me-up. Read and enjoy…

Poetry is to words what song is to sound

I am from a place where the limit lies not in the sky but in your pockets
The deeper they are the closer you are to the dream-making machine
Where the number one citizen never visits but will send his delegates every four years
They bring four promises – one for each year – leaving the mother of four waiting with bated breath for their return
I am from a place where we confuse the gods with prayers for rain and curses for the floods they grant us as they mould our lungs with sickness
I am from a place where despite our challenges we are warriors
We fight because we trust that the light that comes through our cracks brings new days filled with opportunity
I am from a place that has scarred my knees, bruised my elbows and battered my soul.
But like a bird after a cold and bitter season I will always fly back home