#ThursPoetry: Khulu Gatsheni – I Have Seen Pain

#ThursPoetry is back this week, in partnership with our friends at Gourd of Consciousness, for brand new Zimbabwean original poems.

Mthulisi Ndlovu also known as Khulu Gatsheni is an outspoken and daring creative who has always had the passion for pen and paper from a young age. Ndlovu holds two records one for the longest poem ever published in Zimbabwean literature titled ‘Ubuntu (The Raw Truth Unravelled)’ which stands at 51 pages setting a global record and was awarded at the Global African Authors Awards in SA.

The other is a Ndebele version titled ‘uBuntu Nqaba Ngqo (uBuntu above all)’ which is 18 pages long. Despite being haunted and intimidated in his mother land after publishing his book entitled ‘Politicking (Lockdown Memoirs from Within) Mthulisi still remains a firm believer and an unapologetic advocate of the spirit of Ubuntu. His quill has never bowed down to pressure but still continues to vomit that which he deems relevant and profound. Ndlovu has worked with local and international artists which include Mr. Phathisa Nyathi, Mr. Cont Mhlanga, Mr. Beni Dya Mbaxi (Angola), Miss Lenet Beden (Kenya) amongst other upcoming and established creatives. Khulu Gatsheni is also a member of Gourd of Consciousness Poetry.

He has also set up Ubuntu Afro Publishers to promote indigenous languages and Cultural diversity.

POEM
I have seen pain

I have seen pain
Scattered and sprinkled upon innocence
I have seen blood,
Shed and poured as whine by pain-mongering stooges,
I have seen hurt,
Inflicted and enhanced for dominance
I have seen power,
Turning men into mere war mongers,
I have seen riches,
Turning hearts into rough stones with no remorse,
I have seen nations,
Turning into war zones for mere dimes and that which glitters,
I have seen multitudes,
Being paraded and guillotined for truth,
I have seen kings,
Failing to reign with valour and mighty,
I have seen clergymen,

Sucking blood to fill their empty bellies,
I have seen desperation,
Teaching our youths to hail impatience,
I have seen thuggery and greed,
Under nobility suits and parliamentary plebiscite.
I have seen hunger,
Turning men into beasts with no mercy,
I have heard cries,
Loud and clear yearning for an ear,
I have encountered the echoing silences,
Screaming aloud with crystal clarity.
I have seen innocence,
Corrupted and diluted for gain,
I have heard toxic rumours,
Peddled and spreading like veld fires,
I have seen jealousy,
Butchering and burying conscience miles under,
I have caressed and embraced propaganda,
Out of idiocy, I termed it patriotism.

By the way,
I had a dream of peace,
Championed and hailed for healing,
In the dream,
I saw love and honesty purifying souls,
I heard loud whispers too,
“We are tired of Wars and hatred too”
I have visited cemeteries,
Swamped with graves of champions of humanity.
On tombstones,
Flowers, candles glowing spewing tears of consolation and regret,

In all this, I have learnt a lesson,
It is never too late to embrace love and save humanity.

Dedicated to all the victims of war in Ukraine and around the world