© 2024 Jaydin Donough

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the author.
ISBN:
[978-0-7961-7745-2(print)]
[978-0-7961-7746-9(e-book)]

i
Content Page:

Chapter 1: Poems of Love

Chapter 2: Poems of Life

Chapter 3: Poems of Loss

Chapter 4: Poems of Struggles

Chapter 5 : Poems of innocence

Additional Poetry

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 Dedicated …

To the children, teenagers, and youths who have veered

off course into the grips of despair and hardship.
It's for those battling depression, anxiety, and the burdens of their
circumstances.
To the families shattered by loss to suicide,
and those
ensnared by the clutches of
gangsterism.
For the innocent lives lost in senseless violence,
and the souls who departed too soon.
May these words bring comfort to the grieving and
light the way for those in darkness.

You are remembered and honored

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 Acknowledgements

I am deeply grateful to my loving parents for their unwavering support and

encouragement throughout this journey.
Their belief in me has been my strongest pillar.
To my cherished friends' and family, thank you for standing by me, offering your
encouragement, and understanding the sacrifices required to pursue my passion.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my esteemed high school educator, Mr. Shaheed
Mohammad, whose guidance and mentorship have played a pivotal role in shaping my
artistic voice. His wisdom and passion for poetry have been a constant source of
inspiration.

Special thanks to my best friend Matthew Smith, whose unwavering faith in me has
been a source of strength during moments of doubt and setback. Your insistence on
sharing my poetry with the world has been a catalyst for growth, reminding me of the
importance of reaching out and inspiring others.

To everyone who has joined me on this journey, your presence and support have meant
the world to me. I hope that through my work, I can inspire even just one person to
embrace their creativity and pursue their dreams.

Lastly, to all those whom I may have inadvertently overlooked, please know that your
contributions have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
Your presence in my life has made a profound impact, and I am grateful for each and
every one of you.

Thank you.

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 Prologue
"In the symphony of life, my first endeavor, 'Shadows of the Heart: Poems of Love,
Loss, Life, and Struggle,' unfolds like a delicate overture to the emotions that shape our
existence. As the author, I stand at the threshold of my literary labyrinth, akin to a
storyteller ensnared in the verses of the human experience yet untold.

Each word that graces the pages is a reflection of my role as a humble scribe,
navigating the intricacies of love, loss, and the relentless struggle that defines our
journey. My pen, a dual instrument of both sword and balm, draws from the depths of
shared memories and personal reflections, crafting verses that resonate with the
echoes of the heart.

In the quiet moments of contemplation, I've walked the streets of emotions, heard the
whispers carried by the winds of passion and pain. The resilience of the human spirit,
burdened by the weight of life's complexities, becomes a profound testament to the
endurance we embody.

Through this prologue, I aim to unveil the emotions that weave through the fabric of my
narrative—love that transcends, losses that carve deep, and the struggles that shape
our very essence. Each stroke of my pen is an exploration, an attempt to breathe life
into the emotions that linger in the shadows of the heart.

As the writer, I become a vessel, a conduit through which the universal experiences of
love, loss, life, and struggle find expression. In the chapters that follow, I endeavor to
paint a vivid mural of the human condition, where shadows may dance, but where the
overarching theme is the indomitable spirit that prevails.

In this inaugural chapter of my literary journey, the focus is sharp on the title, 'Shadows
of the Heart,' as I navigate the intricate dance of emotions, weaving a narrative that
resonates with the complexities of the human soul.”

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 Chapter 1: Poems of Love

1 Feelings for the One Who Stole My Heart!

2 Love's Embers

3 Love's Tapestry

4 My Dear Whence Have Thou Returned?

5 My Love for You Runs Deep

6 Oh Sweetest GirlSweetest Girl

7 Sweetest Girl

8 Harbor of Hope

1
Feelings for the one who stole my heart!

Oh, sweetest girl with eyes like stars

Your smile outshines the sun by far
With every breath, my heart it sways-
My feelings for you in every way

Your voice a melody so pure

My heart’s race I can’t endure
The way you make me feel is something I can’t hide
Nor something I could explain or describe

In every moment I see your face

My heart, it quickens pace by pace
I long to hold you close and tight
And never let you out of my sight

My feelings for you they never cease

My love for you will never diminish
Sweet girl please know my heart emotions are true
And my feelings for you get daily renewed.
 2
Love's Embers

In the shadows of a love that's gone,

Where hearts once danced, but now withdrawn,
I pen these words, like a mournful song,
"Love is Gone," the echoes prolong.

She loves me not, those petals fell,

Beneath a sky of tears, a silent farewell,
Once vibrant hues turned cold and gray,
A tale of love lost in disarray.

The promises whispered in tender embrace,

Now fragments of a broken embrace,
A symphony of sighs, a painful refrain
Love's embers extinguished, consumed by pain.

Her eyes, once radiant, now vacant and still,

Emotions suppressed, an unspoken thrill,
The touch that once ignited our souls,
Now a distant memory that slowly unfolds.

I search for solace in the remnants of bliss,

But love's faded portrait, I cannot dismiss,
A longing heart yearning for what was once real,
Yet love's cruel illusion, a bitter ordeal.

In the depths of longing, I find my release,

Embracing the darkness, seeking inner peace,
For love is gone, a bittersweet embrace.

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Love's Tapestry

Poem about love ,break ups, confusion as well

as the aftermath of it

In the realm of love, emotions entwined,

A tapestry woven, both gentle and unkind,
A dance of hearts, a delicate design,
Where passion and pain are so closely aligned.

First, love blooms, a brilliant display,

Two souls intertwining in a harmonious sway,
But love's flame flickers, begins to decay,
And breakups cast shadows, skies turn to gray.

Confusion engulfs, like a tempest's roar,

Questions unanswered, hearts bruised to the core,
Lost in a labyrinth, uncertain and unsure,
Love's sweet melody becomes a dissonant score.

Yet in the aftermath, hope finds its way,

Hearts may be wounded, but healing holds sway,
Scattered fragments of love begin to portray
Lessons learned, resilience gained every day.
Love, a complex tapestry, stitched with care,
Unravelled and mended, a constant repair,
Through breakups and confusion, we find the flare,
A chance for growth, and new love to ensnare.
So let us embrace love's tumultuous ride,
Navigating the waves, side by side,
For in the chaos, true love shall reside,
Blossoming anew, with each tear that's dried.

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Whence have thou returned ?

Thou art a bird that flew away

And left my heart full of yearning
For the warmth of sweet embrace

The stars that twinkle in in the night

Reminds me of thine eyes so bright
There beauty so divine and pure
Cannot compare to what I endure

My love for thee is like a raging fire

Fills me with passion and desire
It burns so hot it can’t be contained
For I cannot help but feel so pained

Thou art my heart, my soul, my breath

Thou art my life, my strength, my death
My love for thee I can not deny
And with all my might I love thee still

Where have thou feet trod?

Have thou seen the beauty of the gods?
Have they orbs like gems?

Have they feet touched the ground

Of the foreign shore?
Have they eyes seen a sight
That I’ve never seen before?

Tell me, my love, when have thou returned?

For I need to hear how thou hast spurned.
The wonders of the world, and how
Thou has come back to me, now.

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My Love for You Runs Deep

In the depths of my heart, my love runs deep,

In every breath, in every heartbeat,
Through the passage of time, through the ebb and flow,
My love for you, forever will grow.

In the whisper of the wind, in the calm of the night,

My love for you, a guiding light,
Through the storms of life, through the seas so wide,
My love for you, by your side.

In the touch of your hand, in the warmth of your embrace,

My love for you, a sacred place,
Through the joys and sorrows, the laughter and tears,
My love for you, through the years.

In the journey of life, in the dance of fate,

My love for you, will never abate,
Through the trials and tribulations, the highs and lows,
My love for you, forever will show.

6
Oh Sweetest Girl

In the eyes of the sweetest girl, dreams take flight,

In her smile, a beacon of light,
Through the moments shared, the memories made,
In the heart of the sweetest girl, love's serenade.Her laughter, a melody of joy and grace,
In her presence, I find my place,
Through the trials of life, she stands strong,
In the essence of the sweetest girl, I belong.In the touch of her hand, a comfort so true,
In her embrace, the world feels new,
Through the journey of life, we walk hand in hand,
In the love of the sweetest girl, we understand.In the depths of her soul, a beauty so pure,
In the heart of the sweetest girl, I find my cure,
Through the highs and lows, the joy and pain,
In the love of the sweetest girl, I remain

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Sweetest Girl

In the eyes of the sweetest girl, love's light does shine,

In her smile, a glimpse of the divine,
Through the moments shared, the memories made,
In the heart of the sweetest girl, love's serenade.

Her laughter, a melody of pure delight,

In her presence, the world feels right,
Through the trials of life, she stands strong,
In the essence of the sweetest girl, I belong.

In the touch of her hand, a warmth so true,

In her embrace, my fears subdue,
Through the journey of life, we walk as one,
In the love of the sweetest girl, we have begun.

In the depths of her soul, a beauty so rare,

In the heart of the sweetest girl, I find my care,
Through the highs and lows, the joy and strife,
In the love of the sweetest girl, I find my life.

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Harbor of Hope

In the harbor of hope, I've dropped my anchor down,

Amid life's turbulent waters, where love and strength abound,
A sanctuary from the storms, a tranquil, safe space,
Harbor of hope, where I've found my place.

Through trials and tribulations, in the depths of despair,

Harbor of hope, you're a refuge so rare,
In your calm waters, my soul is set free,
Harbor of hope, you've become a part of me.

With each new sunrise, your light does gleam,

Guiding my way, like a beacon's dream,
In your embrace, I find solace and peace,
Harbor of hope, where life's burdens are released.

Amidst life's tempest, I've taken refuge here,

Harbor of hope, where worries disappear,
In your gentle waters, I've learned to cope,
Harbor of hope, my anchor of endless hope.

In your serene harbor, my heart has found rest,

Harbor of hope, where I'm truly blessed,
In the embrace of your love, I've learned to cope,
Harbor of hope, you've become my eternal hope.

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 Chapter 2: Poems of Life

1 A Disastrous Play

2 Beyond Life’s Echoes

3 The Outlook Life Through My Eyes

4 Struggles of Education

5 Prison Dinners

6 Time Does Not…

7 What Are Holidays?

8 What Is Life???

9 Cape Town Reverie

10 Cape Town Reflections

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A Disastrous Play

A disastrous play, plays out in front of me

I always try to obtain my goals in various manners
But through life’s obstacles I have to endure
My future is up to me, but it's blur

I can’t deny that at times, I get high in my joys

And I drown in my lows
When life knocks me down with a low blow
I find the joy in a kid's smile, innocent as they can be—
Has the love of both parents tender mild

But my heart yearns for kids who go to sleep

With nothing to eat, whether at home or on the streets
Struggling to excel or perform in school or in life has become the norm

But it's these kids that show gratitude for the little they receive
But kids with better privileges lack in their upbringing and attitude

No more Death is being protested out in the streets;

But mobs like armies disperse from gunshots that’s not from police
But out of respect-

I remain intact, not to attract my doom

Of being over-consumed

But I know that the web we weave can be transformed into an instrument of peace

11
Beyond life’s echoes

In realms beyond, where mortal ties unbind,

A tapestry of light and shadow weaves,
Life's fleeting dance transcends the earthly grind,
As souls take flight, where destiny conceives
.
No longer bound by flesh's fragile shell,
They journey on to vast and boundless plains
, Where time dissolves, and stories softly swell,
In symphonies of joy, in soothing rains.
Eternal echoes of the lives they led,
In whispers heard on zephyrs' gentle breeze,
The essence lingers on, no longer fled,
In vibrant hues of sunset's golden ease.

So, fear not what the veil of death may hold,

For life's true essence is forever bold.

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The outlook life through my eyes

Cut could I have more blood!

Action! Make the scene look more tough
The street was where I played as kid
And children younger than myself are enrolled into gangs and initiations are completed
The harsh lesson they learn are colder than the winter seasons
There hunger for pain goes with no reason
and cops combing through evidence like CSI Agents.

Some of them grow up with this and there minds are demented
and they struggle to differentiate from the crime
They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and apparently-
They bare no names
They act like undercovers because they cant choose aside

Growing up I’ve seen things getting heated in the media

like a wound being applied and still being licked on it
Death before honor our history secretively sealed it
Barefoot we'd rather trod over shards of glass
Scattered all over the ground blunt.

Hungry vagrants asking food by the 'rich' like nuns

Cut! Too much, that’s enough!

Dust off the window pane
Dust the memories on the window symbolizing-
our stupidity out-look.

Like body remedies-just take a look at our past and see, ain’t these not the things we see?

Help build instead of breaking down

Excel beyond the boundaries.

13
Struggles of education

In halls of knowledge, young minds aspire,

Seeking wisdom's flame, a fervent fire,
But on this path, a struggle takes its place,
A dance of challenges, a youthful race.

A dance of struggles at bewildered pace

We go
With books as burdens, heavy as the sun,
They journey forth, where battles are won,
In classrooms' embrace, they labor and toil,
Seeking understanding on a fertile soil.

Yet hurdles arise, like mountains to climb,

Doubts and distractions, the hands of time,
A labyrinth of expectations to weave,
In the quest for knowledge, they truly believe.

Society's pressures, like shadows cast,

Weighing them down, from the future to the past,
Dreams in their eyes, and goals held high,
Yet doubts and anxieties often draw nigh.

Peer judgments and whispers, a tempest's call,

Threatening to shatter their spirits, their all,
But resilient they stand, like oaks in the gale,
Facing adversity, their dreams they unveil.

Oh, the struggles of youth, a battle profound,

Yet in the crucible of challenge, strength is found,
Education's forge, where character is cast,
A journey of growth, to the future so vast.

So let us stand by them, mentors and guides,

In their education's storm, be their tides,
For within these trials, seeds of greatness reside,
In the struggles they conquer, their spirits truly thrive.

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Prison dinners

If you stay to jail dinner

You better put them aside
A lot of prisoners didn’t
And a lot of them died!

The Meat is made up of iron

The Samp is made up of steel
If that does not get you
I wonder what will

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Time does not…

Time does not bring relief, you all lied

I wanted her before the swelling of the tied
The way snow melts on top of Mnt Everest and runs down its side

Who told me time would heal my pain

I miss her and I’m weeping like the rain
But our past must remain
Like the leaves in autumn in every lane

There are hundreds of things of which I fear

But one that shatters me of all-
Would be -what would I do-if you were not here

And as I entered with relief

Knowing you are near
I rest my head
On the pillow on my bed.

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What are Holidays?

Holidays are nothing at all-

It does not count!
I have only slipped into another dimension
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly the same as it was.

I am I and You are you
Different but similar
And the old life that we lived so fondly without each other,
untouched and unchanged
Whatever we are to each other, that is what we are still

Why shouldn’t I be out of my mind when you are out of my Sight

I am but waiting for
Somewhere very near, just around the corner

All is well
Nothing hurt nor lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was

How shall we laugh at the trouble of parting when we shall meet again.

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What is life???

What is life, without ups or downs

What is life, if there’s only silence and no sounds
What is life we were all to live in a void
Nothing would be the same...
if we had the same name

What is life?

Life is a gift that makes us all different but yet significant

Time moves on, it’s not a forever paradise.
From birth unto death time moves on

What happens after death? No one knows!

What if we are just part of something beyond our understanding?

What if everything that we see is just part of our imagination?

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Cape Town Reverie

In the arms of the Atlantic, Cape Town lies,

A city of beauty beneath the endless skies,
Table Mountiain’s silhouette, a guardian tall
In Cape Town’s embrace, we stand in the thrall

The Cape-Flats stretch, where stories reside,

Of struggles and hope, side by side,
In the hearts of her people, a love so grand,
Cape Town’s essence, we understand.

From Robben Island’s shores to the Cape of Good Hope,

A tapestry of histories, a diverse scope,
Cape Town, a reverie of cultures that blend,
In her landscapes, our stories never end.

Amidst the waves of the Two Oceans' kiss,

Cape Town's secrets, we reminisce,
From Bo-Kaap's colors to vineyards so green,
In Cape Town's reverie, we're forever seen.

As the sun dips low over the Western Cape,

Cape Town's magic, a lifelong escape,
In every smile, in every shore's embrace,
Cape Town's reverie, a sacred space.

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Cape Town Reflections

In Cape Town's light, reflections shine,

Of a city's soul, in every line,
From District Six to Table Bay,
Cape Town's heart, in bright array.

The waves that kiss the shore so fine,

In every corner, stories entwine,
Of hope and struggle, joy and pain,
Cape Town's reflections, in sunshine and rain.

In Bo-Kaap's hues, in vibrant cheer,

In every face, memories clear,
Of a past that's woven in every thread,
Cape Town's reflections, where history is spread.

As the sun sets over the Twelve Apostles' face,

Cape Town's charm leaves a lasting trace,
In every heart that calls it home,
Cape Town's reflections, forever known.

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 Chapter 3: Poems of Loss

1. Black Hearted

2. Breaking Point

3. Farewell

4. My Dearest Friend

5. To the Memories of the Boy Who Died

6. A Young Bird Girl Who Got Shot Dead at Belgravia High School

7. Soul's Soliloquy

8. Gratitude

9. Rising from the Shadows: Apartheid children's journey

10. Whispers of the Cape-Flats

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Black hearted

In the shadows of my heart’s abyss

Where sorrow’s veil shrouds all bliss
In gothic hues, emotions flow
Embrace the darkness, let it grow

A heart adorned with thorns and woe

In haunting depths, I wander slow
Through haunted nights, my demons ride
The moon’s pale glow my early guide

Emotions echoes whisper through the gloom

In anguish grips, I find my tomb
Tears like ink, they stain my soul
In mournful silence I console

A symphony of pain resides

In a heart like mine, darkness hides
Yet within this melancholic art
I find my solace in my emo heart.

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Breaking point

My life is at a breaking point and no one seems to know

My life is at a breaking point and I still play the role

I smile and I keep on fighting

It's all important for the show
Inside I feel myself breaking down
While I measure the possibility of hope

I'm lost and wounded on the ground

Afraid of tying the end of the rope around my throat

So,I self-meditate and channel the feelings of pessimism

Engulfed by the flames of life and the weight of everything that isn't

The vision of failure and disappointments’s forever enclouding my vision

I cannot escape from the void that I’m missing

It’s a war from within

Stemmed from the first fall of man to Sin.

23
Farewell

Us Separating is an abomination to friendship

Trepidation settles in-
this stone in my chest befuddles me

Dissembling that our departure is not-

easy to fathom
Gullying this emotions wont
cause me to profit me anything
You don’t have the right to gainsay our friendship

even though...

Our future and courses will be different

It is as if the black South Easter wind is
blowing you out of my life
You may never know if we destined to cross paths again
Hopefully it'll be soon...

Anguished enough I render speechless

My future is ahead and its blur but ill move towards it
to make it clear

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My Dearest Friend

In the garden of friendship, once vibrant and bright,

We nurtured a bond, a pure source of delight.
But seasons do change, and so did we, my friend,
Now our friendship's story has reached its last end.

The laughter we shared, the secrets we'd confide,

Now buried in shadows, like the ebbing tide.
We drifted apart, like ships in the night,
In search of new shores, our futures took flight.

You likened friends to fish in a vast, endless sea,

But my dear friend, know this, you can't replace me.
For friendships, once forged, are treasures untold,
More precious than silver, or even than gold.

The apple, it's said, falls close to the tree,

Yet in our friendship's orchard, we once felt so free.
But now, like the tide, it's time to recede,
As history echoes with tales of souls in need.

As the sea closed on Moses and the Egyptians of old,

Our parting too, my friend, is a story retold.

May you find what you seek in life's vast, rolling sea,
And know, in my heart, you'll forever be a part of me.

25
To the Memories of the Boy Who Died

Small innocent boy—

With no sins, nor confessions
Idling I quiver in motion
Behind the thoughts of his killers' transgressions

Great forces of lawyers are driven by the authorities.

Doctors wail as they record his time of departure into the world hereafter.
His parents mourn, and the love they once embraced is now severed,

Mourning as they stand over his breathless corpse

They question the authority and the killers who show no remorse.
Headlines struck the papers as the journalist take action.

His body is rendered to the earth

A small young innocent, his dreams he has not achieved

As a bird, he has left the nest wrapped in a white shell like-egg.

The final lawful document text "deceased" is traded with the one of birth.
And when he arrived as well as departed.
No negligence but a brutal death he has met.

His frail body enters the ground as "dust to dust" is yelled

26
A Young Bird Girl who got shot dead at Belgravia high School

Who would have known about this young soul,

Who would have been called home?
All she probably wanted was to go home,
To be with her family.However, she was struck with a bullet and fell down,
Like a hatchling out of the nest.
A young bird who never got to spread her wings,
A short life she had, a short marathon with an unimaginable end.Who would've known that as
she left home,
She wouldn't be able to return no more?
Wild gunshots poured upon the streets like rain,
As she ran for safety.Now parents have to bury their little baby.
So many questions will or are asked daily such as why her,
What did she do to deserve this, what did her transgressors gain?
All these questions rattle the brain.Yet today I'll say let her death not be in vain.
Let's break these chains, I know the family will be in pain.
Let her death rather not be a stain,
But stand as a beacon that reality should change.

27
Soul's Soliloquy

In the wake of apartheid, a nation's soul speaks,

A soliloquy of hope, a future it seeks,
In the echoes of history, the scars still raw,
A soul's yearning for justice, its silent awe.

The pain of the past, the tears that fell,

In the soliloquy of souls, they dwell,
But in the dawn of change, a story'stold,
A nation's resilience, its spirit bold.

As we rise from shadows, apartheid's night,

A soliloquy of souls, a new day's light,
In unity and love, we find our way,
Apartheid's echoes, they begin to sway.

The soliloquy continues, a heartfelt prayer,

A nation's redemption, a life to repair,
In the wake of apartheid, we redefine,
The soul's soliloquy, a story divine.
In the silence of reflection, we move ahead,
In the soliloquy of souls, we'vefound our thread,
A nation's rebirth, a chapter anew,
In the wake of apartheid, we all grew.

28
Gratitude

In the quiet moments, in the still of the night,

Gratitude fills my heart with light,
For the blessings received, for the love shared,
In the essence of gratitude, I am prepared.

Through the trials of life, through the joys and pain,

Gratitude's whisper, a gentle refrain,
In the dance of existence, in the ebb and flow,
Gratitude's grace, forever will show.

For the kindness given, for the support shown,

Gratitude's seed, in my heart has grown,
Through the highs and lows, through the dark and bright,
Gratitude's presence, a guiding light.
In the journey of life, in the path we take we'll our cement our ways

29
Rising from Shadows:Apartheid Children’s Journey

In the land where history’s scars do lay

Apartheid’s children, in shadows grey,
Through struggles and pain,they found there way
In the heart of South Africa, where they’d stay.

From a past so dark;they rose above

United by hope,by strength and love
In the midst of adversity,they’d prove,
Their resilience and spirit,hand in the glove.

Though the wounds ran deep, their spirits soared,

In unity and courage,they were restored,
With every dawn,their strength implored.
Apartheid’s children,their bond explored.

In the present they stand,a testament true,

To the power of hearts,both old and new,
As history’s scars begin to subdue,
Apartheid’s children grew.

30
Whispers of the Cape-Flats

In the whispers of the Cape-Flats, secrets lie,

Of lives lived beneath an open sky,
Of dreams that soar, of hopes that sigh,
In the whispers of the Cape-Flats, our spirits fly.

In every street, in every lane,

Stories of joy, stories of pain,
Of unity, of bonds so tight,
In the whispers of the Cape-Flats, hearts ignite.

Through hardships faced, through battles fought,

In the whispers of the Cape-Flats, lessons are taught,
Of resilience, of strength in unity,
In the whispers of the Cape-Flats, we find our identity.

In the laughter of children, in the songs of old,

In the whispers of the Cape-Flats, tales are told,
Of a community, of a family so wide,
In the whispers of the Cape-Flats, we take pride.

31
Chapter 4: Poems of Struggles

1. Fictions of My Life…

2. Fighting Suicidal Thoughts

3. I’m Longing for More Girl…

4. Never

5. Perseverance

6. Trapped at 18

7. Unknown

8. Amageddon

9. On the Precipice of War

10. Liberations Rhyme

11. I mail this letter

32
Fictions of my life…

As I gaze beyond these

Gloomy faded skies
This unimaginable place
Is where my broken heart lies

An unexplainable warm and-

Intriguing dry smell
This here would change my life
For sure I can tell

The strands of glass

I have seen before
Yet this place
I do not recognise anymore

I take a step further

To explore my new surroundings
But my feet refuses to-
Move from it’s founding

Suddenly I feel my skin

Begin to melt
And this awful cloud
denies what I felt

Strange colours of water

Starts to appear
And sounds of a silent wall
Was all I could hear
I tried to close my eyes
But instead I fell into a steam
Just to awaken and find
That it was all a dream.

33
Fighting suicidal thoughts

Through the darkness and the pain

These thoughts come’s creeping in once again
Whispers of despair and doubt.

But I will not succumb to fear

or let these thoughts bring me near
For I will fight with all my might
through the day and the nights and i'll hold on to the light.

I'll find the strength to carry on

and face the storm until its gone
and tho' the battle may be long

I'll seek help when I need aid-

and I'll never allow these dreadful thoughts to invade
For I am worth so much more
than what the thoughts could have in store

So, I will fight with all my might!

34
I’m longing for more girl…

I give my heart and soul to you

My love for thee runs deep and true
But there’s still something I desire
Something that sets my heart on fire

I want more than just your love

More than just of what I have been dreaming
I want to know your hopes and fears
And I want to wipe away your sorrowful tears

I want to be your rock, your guide

And I want to be your shoulder if you need to cry
To hold you close when times are tough
And prove to you, that you loved enough

So please my love, hear my plea

Open your heart and see
All the parts that make you whole
And let me love you with my heart and soul

35
Never

Never chase things that are not worthy of being caught

For some they are green-horned
Some give it there best while others don’t

I say learn from the old ands

All of this may be like Greek to you
For me it’s as if my heart was in my mouth
But my actions spoke louder than my words

And every cloud has its own silver lining

Just as everyone is a far cry from one another.

36
Perseverance

In a world of shadows, where hopes grow thin,

There lies a spirit that refuses to rescind.
Through the depths of despair, it dares to ascend,
With a heart full of courage, it's time to try again.

Like a phoenix emerging from the ashes' embrace,

It gathers strength, determination in its pace.
In the face of failure, it won't be defined,
For its spirit, resilient, is destined to shine.

In the echoes of doubt, a melody begins,

Whispering words of encouragement, wiping tears from within.
The song of perseverance, sung with might and grace,
Guiding this soul through life's intricate maze.

Oh, the battles fought, the scars that remain,

Yet each wound carries a story, a lesson to regain.
With every stumble, it learns to stand tall,
Accepting challenges, embracing the call.

Like a dancer in rhythm, it finds its own groove,

Embracing mistakes, refusing to be removed.
With unwavering faith, it conquers the night,
For each step forward reveals a new light.

With the melody soaring, a symphony so clear,

It paints a tapestry of hope, banishing every fear.
With lyrics of resilience, it sings with might,

37
Trapped at 18

I'm sitting here desperate and worried that my life is falling apart.
I’m trying my best to fix it, but I dont know where to start
Every corner of my being down to my heart
is plagued by all the suffering
I'm not whole, just a collection of my parts
Part of me is in pain, buried deep within

Another part is fear, you'll see it when the hair on my body stands
on end on my skin
Apart of me is resilient always trying to take it on the other chin
But the bigger part of me, might be the hate I have for him

He's the root of all my problems, still there where he has-

always been taking me along on every whim

Erractic as it can be i'm always unhappy and I always sin

I thought I had a chance to finally take control
But he knows me better than anyone
He sees the darkest corners of my soul

38
Unknown

I used to be so over-consumed by how I was perceived

always jugging the facets of different possibilities
I used to care so much
now I couldn’t care any less

I’m too focus on success

I pass all the x and y what’s next?

On life I won’t waste my breath

I already faced death
And I lost the little love I had left
I rose from the cracks in the concrete

After falling into the Earths depths

I tried running but I couldn’t escape
I thus made magic from my mental mass

I'm here to claim what’s mine you ain't seen a thing yet!!!

39
Amagededdon

In the darkest depths of a world unbound,

Amidst chaos and fire, a dire sound,
Apocalypse awakens, its fury untamed,
A tapestry of destruction, in shadows named.

Amidst the ruins, where cities once stood,

The skies ablaze with a fiery flood,
Amageddon's symphony, a haunting dirge,
Echoes of a world on the final verge.

Mountains crumble, and oceans collide,

As cosmic forces in turmoil collide,
The earth trembles beneath heaven's wrath,
A cataclysmic dance on a fateful path.

Amidst the chaos, heroes arise,

Defying fate with unwavering eyes,
Unity forged in the forge of despair,
To brave Amageddon's infernal snare.

In the midst of ruin, hope's spark remains,

A resilient spirit that forever sustains,
From the ashes of turmoil, new life shall bloom,
Amageddon's tempest shall yield to a new dawn's loom.

So let us ponder the lessons it imparts,

As Amageddon's tale etches on our hearts,
A reminder of our power to mend and mend,
In the face of the storm, our strength ascend.

40
On the Precipice of War

In the shadow of conflict, on the edge of strife,

On the precipice of war, we hold our life,
Through the tensions rising, through the fear and dread,
On the brink of war, the paths we tread.In the cries of the innocent, in the call for peace,
On the precipice of war, we seek release,
Through the chaos brewing, through the storm ahead,
On the edge of war, we forge our thread.In the hope of unity, in the dream of calm,
On the precipice of war, we find our balm,
Through the power of love, through the strength of will,
On the brink of war, our hearts we fill.In the face of conflict, in the quest for peace,
On the precipice of war, we seek a new lease,
Through the trials of life, through the dance of fate,
On the edge of war, we navigate.

41
 Liberation's Rhyme

In the cradle of freedom, where dreams take flight,

A nation awakened, stepping into the light,
Through struggle and strife, a people arose,
In liberation's rhyme, their courage shows.

From the chains of the past, they broke away,

In the dawn of hope, a brand-new day,
With voices united, they sang their song,
In liberation's rhyme, where they belong.

In the spirit of those who dared to dream,

A tapestry woven, a powerful theme,
With hearts unyielding, they forged their way,
In liberation's rhyme, they found their say.

Through the echoes of history, their legacy flows,

In the rhythm of freedom, their story grows,
With resilience and strength, they face the climb,
In liberation's rhyme, a timeless chime.

42
I Mail This Letter

I mail this final letter, It's 20:20, I'm at the cliff's edge.
I watch the clock tick forward in its endless cycle,
Yet it won't dispel the darkness that engulfs me.
Life coils like a serpent, its grip unyielding,
I prayed to the Lord as I soared to the highest clouds, while sunk in my
lowest depths.
My thoughts turn icy, haunted by impending fate,
Hope measured against failure, what are the odds?
Will I triumph or stumble into oblivion?
Mind over matter, but I'm consumed by doubt,
Unable to assume control.

I'm but particles held together by fragile bonds,

My vulnerability is my sole defense.
Amidst fellow learners, doubt fills the air,
I know the dice have been cast,
What you put in is what you'll get out.

Hearts pound like drums echoing in the night,

Pierced by questions I cannot answer,
A test I cannot evade.
Surprise, surprise, I'm caught unawares,
Bewildered by the exam hall's hushed breath,
In a state of shock, searching for blame.

Heartbeat races, body trembles,

Caught in the grip of uncertainty.

43
 Chapter 5: Poems of innocence

My Fault

Thou Art

The Ancient World

Diverse Faiths Unite

Harbor of Hope

A Young Bird Girl Who Got Shot Dead at Belgravia High School

To the Memories of the Boy Who Died

Souls soliloquy

Echoes of Genocide

44
My fault

In the wake of my heart-break I write this poem to heal

Loves descent, a tale of hearts entwined

One joyous dance now veiled in the night
I turned blind to doubt, love redefined
A bond dissolved, hearts wounded in a fight

Tears washed away our cherished bliss

A mirror to my callus heart art
Regret, I failed to mend amiss, we part, bitter-sweet, a lesson start

Farewell, my love may peace embrace

Memories linger, pain released.
In paths diverged, heart’s find their place
A broken bond, a heart to mend, my fault, at least.

45
Thou art

Thou art a masterpiece beyond delicacy

Thou art know my darkest corners of my soul
Thou seize my youthful show in where I once upon a time played a role
I seize beyond the shadows of awaken
What thou have in store none can replace
I would grieve if thou leave’s me

Thou art my joy

My world and everything in life
To thee I have been ceremonially aligned
With thee there’s no end
No end to my existence
With thee I can face all the blizzards
No compliment can linger in my soul without thee
If thee leave please do not forget me
Take my soul if thou could
I know I would do the same if I were to be in the same predicament
Thou art my world and the elements

To thee I offer my life as a sacrifice

Oh thee, I love thee, and only thee dearly.

46
The Ancient World

In days of yore, in realms of old,

Where mysteries and legends unfold,
A world of wonders, vast and grand,
Lay waiting for the curious hand.
From pyramids that pierced the skies,
To whispered secrets in ancient eyes,
Civilizations, long since passed,
Left footprints in time's sands so vast.

Inscribed on scrolls and tablets rare,

Knowledge of ages, treasures to share.
From Alexandria's great library's dome,
To scrolls found hidden in earthly loam.

On distant shores, explorers sailed,

Unveiling truths that had been veiled,
New lands, new peoples, worlds unknown,
Discovery's torch forever shone.
In Mesopotamia's cradle of life,
Cuneiform tales in clay were rife,
Mathematical marvels did arise,
Inscribed on tablets beneath starlit skies.

In Rome's grand arenas, tales were told,

Of gladiators brave, and empires bold,
From Colosseum's roar to aqueduct's grace,
Ancient echoes still find their place.

In the sands of Egypt, tombs concealed,

Pharaohs' secrets, slowly revealed,
Hieroglyphs that whispered of the Nile,
Unraveling stories mile by mile.

47
From Greece, philosophy took flight,
Socratic wisdom, a beacon of light,
Olympus' gods and epic verse,
In Homer's tales, the ancients converse.

The Silk Road's threads wove realms afar,

Trade and knowledge, a shining star,
From East to West, cultures did blend,
On paths of silk, discovery's trend.

Archaeologists delve into earth's embrace,

Uncovering relics, time cannot erase,
From ancient cities to buried lore,
The past unfolds, forevermore.

Oh, ancient world, your tales we seek,

In history's pages, your voice does speak,
With each discovery, a piece we find,
A mosaic of the past, forever intertwined

48
Diverse Faiths Unite

In realms of faith where spirits soar,

Religion's tapestry is evermore,
A tapestry woven with threads of belief,
A quest for truth, a balm for grief.
From ancient texts to modern thought,
Religion's teachings have been sought,
Guiding hearts through trials and strife,
A beacon of hope, a roadmap for life.
In temples, churches, mosques, and more,
Devotees gather to explore,
The mysteries of existence, the sacred unknown,
In each corner of the world, a faith has grown.
Through rituals, prayers, and sacred rites,
Religion ignites our inner lights,
Connecting souls across time and space,
In reverence for a divine embrace.
Yet differences too often divide,
When unity should be the stride,
Let's find the common threads that bind,
And let compassion and love unwind.
For in the heart of every creed,
Lies a call to help those in need,
To spread kindness, joy, and grace,
And make the world a better place.
So let us cherish the faith we find,
In open hearts and open minds,
Religion's beauty, diverse and grand,
A tapestry woven by human hand.

49
Harbor of Hope

In the harbor of hope, I've dropped my anchor down,

Amid life's turbulent waters, where love and strength abound,
A sanctuary from the storms, a tranquil, safe space,
Harbor of hope, where I've found my place.

Through trials and tribulations, in the depths of despair,

Harbor of hope, you're a refuge so rare,
In your calm waters, my soul is set free,
Harbor of hope, you've become a part of me.

With each new sunrise, your light does gleam,

Guiding my way, like a beacon's dream,
In your embrace, I find solace and peace,
Harbor of hope, where life's burdens are released.

Amidst life's tempest, I've taken refuge here,

Harbor of hope, where worries disappear,
In your gentle waters, I've learned to cope,
Harbor of hope, my anchor of endless hope.

In your serene harbor, my heart has found rest,

Harbor of hope, where I'm truly blessed,
In the embrace of your love, I've learned to cope,
Harbor of hope, you've become my eternal hope.

50
Soul's Soliloquy

In the wake of apartheid, a nation's soul speaks,

A soliloquy of hope, a future it seeks,
In the echoes of history, the scars still raw,
A soul's yearning for justice, its silent awe.

The pain of the past, the tears that fell,

In the soliloquy of souls, they dwell,
But in the dawn of change, a story'stold,
A nation's resilience, its spirit bold.

As we rise from shadows, apartheid's night,

A soliloquy of souls, a new day's light,
In unity and love, we find our way,
Apartheid's echoes, they begin to sway.

The soliloquy continues, a heartfelt prayer,

A nation's redemption, a life to repair,
In the wake of apartheid, we redefine,
The soul's soliloquy, a story divine.
In the silence of reflection, we move ahead,
In the soliloquy of souls, we'vefound our thread,
A nation's rebirth, a chapter anew,
In the wake of apartheid, we all grew.

51
A Young Bird Girl who got shot dead at Belgravia high School

Who would have known about this young soul,

Who would have been called home?
All she probably wanted was to go home,
To be with her family.However, she was struck with a bullet and fell down,
Like a hatchling out of the nest.
A young bird who never got to spread her wings,
A short life she had, a short marathon with an unimaginable end.Who would've known
that as she left home,
She wouldn't be able to return no more?
Wild gunshots poured upon the streets like rain,
As she ran for safety.Now parents have to bury their little baby.
So many questions will or are asked daily such as why her,
What did she do to deserve this, what did her transgressors gain?
All these questions rattle the brain.Yet today I'll say let her death not be in vain.
Let's break these chains, I know the family will be in pain.
Let her death rather not be a stain,
But stand as a beacon that reality should change.

52
Echoes of Genocide

On the precipice of war,

Israel and Palestine,
Killing crop-eaters using pesticides—ammunition,
Like killing innocent people, a mass genocide.
In a sense, the innocent will soon stand strong once again.

They (Israel) move in stealth,

While the others (Palestine) are in bad health.
World sanctions pouring in like rain—clattering,
Countless Palestinians, like a mass of grains.
They bid farewell like masters of ceremonies,
They mourn for loved ones who breathe no more.

In their own countries, banished.

In desperation, they hover anguished,
Always treading carefully like thieves.

What's the root cause? Vanity?

Is it a difference of spirituality or is it politically driven?
Straight to the center of the cause like guts in the intestines.
Perplexed in the wants and needs for tranquility,
Nations rising against nations, the holy book says it all.

I wander astray thinking of Adam and Eve who gave life,

For from God they received the gifts to bear life.
Now we want to kill and rid nations like a garbage truck being sterilized.
I realize with my real eyes, real lies.

53
Additional poetry

Author's choice

54
*My Mother, My Father*

My mother, the seed, my father, the soil,

My mother, the armor, my father, the sword.
Together, they built a life, steady and strong,
Each with a purpose, neither right nor wrong.

My father, the breadwinner, steady and true,

My mother, the nurturer, guiding us through.
Her days are filled with love, work, and care,
His strength provides, but her heart’s always there.

A housewife, they say, but it's much more than that,

She raises the world while he lays down the mat.
For without her, the house wouldn’t be a home,
And without him, the fields wouldn’t be sown.

So here's to my mother, the hands that mold,

And to my father, whose heart beats bold.
Together, they're balance, like earth and sky,
Two pillars of strength as the days go by.

55
*What If I disappear today?*

If you disappear today, will you miss me by tomorrow?

Your eyes full of tears and your heart filled with sorrow.
For my body is present, but my soul tends to move,
And I fear for the day my body will too.

I don't know what I'm searching for, but soon enough I will,
And I question if you will still be part of it.
You see, life has given us limitless possibilities,
But as I flip through the pages of life,
I see no chapter on unity.

Love is beautiful to start but has a painful end,

So I'm hesitant when falling in love.
If I disappear today, please forget me by tomorrow,
And find yourself someone whose soul doesn't wander.

56
“Echoes from Divided Lands”

There’s a place where the sky bleeds,

where the sun sets behind corrugated roofs
and the night swallows the cries
of mothers who have nothing left to offer
but grief.

In the townships, the air is thick with dust and despair—

where children dodge bullets like they once did games,
and the echoes of their laughter
are now buried beneath the gunfire.
Khayelitsha, Langa, Gugulethu—
names that sit heavy on the tongue
like prayers that never reached heaven.

Across the way, in the coloured streets of Athlone,

the kids walk with their backs against walls,
avoiding the corner where gangsters hold court,
their lives weighed down by drugs and dirty money,
where the streets claim them
before they’ve even begun to live.
You can smell the corruption in the air,
taste the betrayal in every breath.

And then there are the white suburbs,

quiet and clean, behind their high walls and electric fences—
a different world entirely.
Rondebosch, Constantia, Bishopscourt—
where the lawns are watered,
but our souls are dry.

57
The streets here are empty,
but not for the same reason—
not because of death,

but because safety is a luxury,

and privilege is the armor they wear.

How many worlds can exist in one land?

How many walls must be built
to separate the rich from the hungry,
the safe from the damned?

They say we are one nation,

but they lie.
We are fragments,
splintered and bleeding in the shadows.

Here, in Mitchells Plain, in Bonteheuwel,

in Manenberg’s streets where hope is strangled
by the hands of a broken system,
you’ll find children learning to survive
before they’ve learned to dream.

But there, in Sandton, in Cape Town’s leafy streets,

they sleep easy,
far removed from the chaos that claws at our throats.
They drink from cups filled with our tears,
while we choke on dust and violence.

This is the South Africa they don’t see—

the townships, the coloured flats,
where young lives are stolen by streets
that never promised them safety.

58
But in the cracks of this divided land,
there is still a pulse,
a whisper of something that refuses to die.

In Khayelitsha, in Bonteheuwel,
in the places they forget,
the children still sing.
Their voices may be small,
but they rise,
they rise
with the anger of a thousand lifetimes,
with the defiance of generations buried too soon.

One day, the walls will crumble,

and the streets will be filled not with blood,
but with those who dare to dream.
And when that day comes,
South Africa will not weep
for its lost children—
but rejoice for those who lived.

59
 Ghosts of the Forgotten

We walk among the graves of the living,

where tombstones are just another face
and blood spills like rain, washing over the streets—
but the rain never cleanses,
it stains.

Children are born into bullets,

cradled by the sound of gunfire,
fed by the whispers of corrupt men
who feast on their suffering.

We see the bodies,

we count the bodies,
but we don’t dare say their names.

In these streets, death is not a stranger—

he’s a brother, a father,
a shadow we drag behind us like chains.

They sell us lies wrapped in promises,

but we’ve learned to bite the hand that feeds—
because that hand is stained too,
dripping in gold stolen from the poor,
pockets lined with the misery they never acknowledge.

Do you hear it?

The cries of mothers whose arms are empty,
whose hearts beat a rhythm of silence—
a lullaby for the dead.

60
 They sell hope in glass pipes,
addiction the only escape,
because here, there’s no future to hold onto—
only ghosts of what could’ve been.

The air is thick with betrayal,

and every breath feels like swallowing razors.
We choke on promises made,
empty words hanging like nooses,
as our children fall like leaves in the wind—
too soon, too often.

I’ve seen the hollow eyes of the forgotten,

souls swallowed by streets that never gave them a chance.
They carve their names in concrete,
but even those marks fade,
washed away by tears that no one sees.

And we, the survivors,

we build walls around our hearts,
hoping to shut out the screams,
the violence that is as normal as breathing—
but we can never escape.

This is the land of the forsaken,

where the rich get richer,
and the poor dig their own graves with empty hands.

But in the darkest night,

when the silence is deafening,
a single spark still burns.

61
 Maybe it’s madness,
maybe it’s hope—
but somewhere beneath the rubble,
something stirs, something whispers:
not yet, not now.

Because even in a land of broken dreams,

the seeds of rebellion are sown.
Even in the silence,
we remember their names.

And one day,

the streets will rise,
and the children who never had a voice
will sing.

62
 “The Weeping Land”

Here, the earth drinks the blood of its children,

spilling like tears no one will see.
The sky is a liar, promising rain,
while we starve in a drought of mercy.

Bones rattle in the wind,

but they’re not old—
they belong to the young,
buried before they ever grew cold.

In the corners of shacks,

mothers press their hands to their ears,
to silence the screams of hunger,
to drown out the years of unanswered prayers.

We are ghosts before we die,

trapped in skin that is too thin,
haunted by a future we’ll never touch,
cursed with dreams that rot from within.

The streets are rivers of sorrow,

where children wade through filth and decay,
learning too soon that in this land,
life is something easily thrown away.

How do you hold onto hope,

when your brothers hang from the trees?
Not by a rope, but by a system
that chokes them in unseen chains, leaves them to freeze.

63
 A bullet here is cheaper than bread,
and death is a visitor in every home,
sitting at the dinner table,
its presence so familiar, we no longer feel alone.

Sisters sell their souls in the shadows,

for a meal that never comes,
and the world watches in silence,
counting lives like forgotten sums.

This land is a graveyard,

and we are its living dead,
buried beneath corruption,
with soil stained red.

Cry for us, not because we’re gone,

but because we were never seen,
a country that raised us with promises,
but left us dying in between.

How many tears must fall

before the rivers run clean?
How many lives must break
before the sky splits at the seams?

64
Solitude based off the poem solitude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Laugh, and the world will smile your way,

But cry, and you'll find none will stay.
They'll bask in the light you project,
Yet flee when your spirit's wrecked.

Rejoice, and hearts will gather near,

But whisper your pain—none will hear.
For joys are shared in the open air,
While sorrow is a heavy, silent prayer.

Shine, and you'll never walk alone,

But falter, and you'll face the stone.
For the world loves a radiant soul,
Yet leaves the broken to mend their whole.

In solitude, the truth will rise—

That company favors joyful skies.
But in the shadows, you'll find the key:
That solitude can set you free.

65
 Updated poem

Land of My Ancestors

Upon the land of my ancestors, a homeward route,

The white rule was heavier than an anvil and brute.
Ancestors' spirits dwell upon the lands,
And my ancestors, among the sands, they danced.

They led the large herds, numbered 'til the last.

Strength among the men, downward it was passed.
Hearts were saddened and sombre as the whites crept.
Families torn apart, and mothers wept.

Relatives were dying, the chief said,

As they buried warriors with their heads northward.

Children crying for love—no answer there.

A camp pack loft among the stars,

Burning up on high.

Only oral stories unpacked far and wide.

'Twas a warrior, mother, father, brother, sister, and innocent corpse we
carried home.

My ancestors, my ancestors, your stories go on.

For the Youth

I never walked through the fire of apartheid,

But its smoke lingers, thick in our lives today.

66
From Sharpeville to Soweto, blood soaked the soil,
And in their cries, the future struggled to recoil.

Children were shot for raising their voices,

Yet in their silence, we must make our choices.
The massacre of dreams, buried in the dust,
Is now our inheritance, a matter of trust.

I carry the weight of those who fought,

The land still echoes with all they taught.
For we, the youth, must rise, take the flame,
And burn through the chains of poverty’s name.

Ancestors, ancestors, your stories remain,

For the youth to continue and not die in vain.

67
 Poem of Return

Come back with a heart full of cheer,

And the world will welcome you here.
But stumble with burdens unseen,
And watch how the crowd grows lean.

Return with a song in your voice,

And the world will echo your choice.
But come with your troubles in tow,
And quickly, they’ll turn to go.

For joy is the bridge that they cross,

While sorrow's a burden they toss.
They gather for moments that shine,
But loneliness stays yours and mine.

Yet in your return, you will learn

That solitude’s more than we yearn.
In silence, we mend what’s torn—
In stillness, a new heart is born.

68
 Deathnote

Youngsters scribbling their own demise,

Ink on paper, darkening skies.
Like the anime, they seal their fate,
Writing in shadows, it's already too late.

Victims of streets that swallow them whole,

A lost generation, no dreams to console.
Bullets and drugs take place of hope,
And in their hands, the deathnotes they wrote.

I'm but a scribe, a witness, a pen,

Fulfilling the words of these broken men.
Each line etched with pain and despair,
I record their cries, though none seem to care.

They sign their names in blood and tears,

Lost in a world of forgotten years.
And as their stories come to an end,
I hold the pages they never could mend.

The streets claim lives before they can grow,

Their deathnotes written long before they know.
And I, just a scribe in this endless fight,
Capture their fall in the dead of night.

69
 Never Give Up

I failed, not once, but twice in the climb,

Each stumble felt like the end of my time.
Doubted by all, left in the night,
But I swore to myself, never give up without a fight.

The road seemed long, the odds stacked high,

Yet within me, a fire refused to die.
They saw my falls, but not my rise,
For writing became my truth, my prize.

It’s not just a thought, not something you say,

It’s a tool that shapes the light from the gray.
A weapon I wield in this battle of will,
To prove that even the broken can heal.

I stand here now, with my journey in view,

Grateful for every moment that pulled me through.
For every doubt, every sleepless night,
I fought—and now I write.

70
 Are you listening ?

Hi, my name is Jaydin.

I was born April 14th, 2005—prematurely at 5 months.
I consider myself rare, a miracle.

Even though I can be difficult, I strive to make change, even if it’s

subliminal.
I often feel like a contradiction, like I’m balancing hope and despair.
I love people, but sometimes, I can’t stand them either.
I think what I want most is to be happy.

But sadness feels like an old friend.

I desperately want to be loved, but often find myself running when love gets
too close.
I’m absolutely certain of almost nothing, except this:
I want to be understood, more than anything.

I want someone to look into my eyes and say, "I see you. I know you. I am
you."
So, I write.
I throw all my hope and despair, my light and darkness, my love and hate
into the void,
And I hope someone is out there listening.

Are you listening?

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 Epilogue

As you close the pages of this book, may the words and emotions shared within linger
in your heart and mind.
These poems are a reflection of the human experience, capturing the essence of love,
life, loss, struggles, and innocence.
My hope is that they resonate with you, offering solace, inspiration, or simply a moment
of reflection.
Thank you for embarking on this journey with me.
Poetry has the power to connect us, transcending boundaries and differences.
I hope these verses have touched you in some way and that you carry their spirit with
you as you navigate your own journey.

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 About the Author

Jaydin Donough is an emerging poet with a passion for exploring the complexities of the
human experience through verse.
With a unique voice that blends introspection and vivid imagery, Jaydin's work delves
into themes of love, loss, and resilience.
Inspired by personal experiences and the world around them, Jaydin seeks to create
poetry that resonates deeply with readers.
When not writing, Jaydin enjoys immersing himself in nature, listening to music, and
spending time with loved ones.
"Shadows of the Heart: Poems of Love, Life, Loss, Struggles, and Innocence" is a
testament to Jaydin's dedication to the craft of poetry and his desire to share stories that
touch the soul.

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 Appendix

This appendix provides additional context for some of the themes and references found
within the poems.

Apartheid: A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race,

primarily known for its implementation in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s.

Apartheid Children: Refers to children who grew up during the apartheid era in South
Africa, experiencing systemic racial discrimination and inequality.

Cape Flats: A large, low-lying, flat area located southeast of Cape Town, South Africa,
known for its diverse communities and socio-economic challenges.

Genocide: The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural

group.

Palestine and Israel Conflict: An ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that
began in the mid-20th century, involving disputes over land, self-determination, and
sovereignty.

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