Xolani Henry Shezi (also known by his stage name Xolani Shezzi), an emerging poet from Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal uses poetry as a healing mechanism to express his hard upbringing and loss of so many close relatives, some of whom he didn’t have the opportunity to establish a relationship and bond with.
For International Day of Education, Shezi’s poem Letters to Heaven was featured on AVBOB poetry blog. Now Shezi has received a City Award nomination for hustler of the year for his poem, “Ndenze ntoni na?” The title is Xhosa and translates into “What have I done?”
Ndenze ntoni na?
Had I a pair of wings;I would flap them
Courageously,and soar straight to heaven
Gallop as the Mighty Thor;
within the sacred hallways of heaven
Demand to speak with God
Without the presence of his bodyguards
Look him in the eyes and ask:
Ndenze ntoni na?
Why is it that I’m being blissfully slapped by
Challenges on a daily basis?
Ndenze ntoni na?
Wenze ntoni na?
You! My grandest of creations,simply
Refuse to let forth the greatness that
I,the King of Kings
The God of Kings
Have bestowed
Upon you.
Ndenze ntoni na?
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