Chairperson's Poetry

Note: This poem was first published in the main stream media in 2006 when the Chairperson was still pursuing his Bachelor of Arts degree. The Chairperson is one who is deep about issues of love, life, politics and development; and his poetry at times show this.

Even in absentia.

Even in absentia
far away,
across the landscapes,
far across the valleys,
far across the skies,
away across the open lands
you look beautiful.

Even in absentia
so near,
across my mouth,
near across my mind,
near across my eyes,
so near across my heart
you are beautiful.

Even in absentia
across the landscapes
of my breath,
across the valleys
of my desires,
across the skies
of my wishes,
across the open lands
of my aching heart
you are beautiful.

Even in absentia
like an old pendulum;
my mouth repeats your name.

Even in absentia
like a broken record;
my mind sees your shadow.

Even in absentia
like an orchid flower;
my eyes admire your appearance.

Even in absentia
like the falling rain drops
my heart falls for your love.

Even in absentia
you are beautiful.

Thulani Nkosi
BA (Politics and International Relations) student,
University of the Witwatersrand

The Decision

The Decision made
was a decision taken,
The Decision proposed
was a decision accepted;
like a soldier on the dawn
of a commander's
voice
I had to rise
I had to act.

The Decision to love you
was not based on your
beauty,
The decision to go out
with you
was not based on your elegance;
like time your
beauty ticked
and soon it was sunset,
like the weather
your elegance changed
and soon it was stormy.

I see those furrows in your face
It is a pattern of the ups and downs
of life.
I see also those marks on your
body
I know life gashed on it
but the decision to love you
still stands.

The decision was influenced
by patience.
It was patience that said
my love for you is like a stairway
going up breeds new life
the life that is beyond
those furrows
going down corrects faults
faults that were made by
that body.

the decision
to love you
is timeless
the decision
to be with you
is unconditional
so is my Love to you.
Thulani Nkosi
BA(Politics and International Relations)student
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)