I spent years being ashamed of wanting to do more than one thing with my life.
Don’t be.
Embrace your authenticity.
Find your creative voice.
Hone your writing process.
Build Community.
I spent years being ashamed of wanting to do more than one thing with my life.
Embrace your authenticity.
Find your creative voice.
Hone your writing process.
Build Community.
Jacaranda Reads
Student Poems & Art
by Kelvin Banda
Where is it written
That people who have turned a new leaf
Are copying the old people’s myth
For that reason do not take
a bath.
Where is it written
That students should be porridge eaters
Whilst elders be their beaters
And confirm as their leaders.
Where is it written
That girls are the moppers
Whilst boys are the rappers
In any hour
Just because of power
by Thokozani Gama
It was a long journey
Searching for my future
But I couldn’t tell anyone where I was going
The future was just too close to me
But seeing it too far from me
But still I couldn’t tell anyone where I was going
Facing more troubles
Facing more difficulties
But I couldn’t tell anyone where I was going
The thought is having much work
The thought is having many problems
But still keeping the secret
Not telling anyone where I was going
Having many more friends
Having good parents
Having perfect brothers and sisters
But still keeping the secret
Not telling anyone where I was going
Some trying to stop me
But I couldn’t stop going
Where I was going
Now someone is on my way with me.
With lots of love nothing can threaten me
Because of him; this one is Jesus
Now He’s showing me the way to find the future
Now the way is education
This is the good way, the perfect way
For me to find the Future
Now I can tell the people
Where I went
Why?
Because now I’ve found
The way.
Illustration by Chimwemwe Luwanda
Illustration by Stephano Chidzanja
Illustration by Chimwemwe Luwanda
by Pemphero Chiwaya
If I can remember
It was a sad day
The day which I cannot forget
The day which you cannot forget
It’s hard to forget this day
It’s hard to forget your beloved one
It’s hard to forget my beloved one
Was he or she killed
Did he or she just disappear
Did he or she tell you that
He or she died on your lap
Tell me what happened to him or her
What did you do that day
What did you do that hour
What did you do that moment
What did you do that second
What did you do that minute
Did you just let him or her go
Did you cry
Yes, I can tell that you cried
and I can tell that your eyes became red
Your eyes were flowed tears like the rain
If you can remember, you did not say anything
If I can remember, I was speechless
And no one spoke that day
by Stephano Chidzanja
Freedom fighter
They bring light
In our mind
Which I can write
So that one should find
Freedom fighter
Indeed they are our guides
They fight and defeat
They bring change and peace
In our land locked country
Malawi was poor
Now everyone is sure
That I’ll be wise and rise
People were empty minded
That they couldn’t be counted and shown on the map
Because of tribalism,
Heartless
Since women suffer
And tears come from their eyes
But they did not take this into their ears
Our country was poor
Because of corruption
But all these are gone
Like someone was blowing a horn
Now we have peace
Because of freedom fighters
They brought lighter
That now I can be a writer
Since my rights were vandalized
And they did not take responsibility for my rights
Because of freedom fighters
These are gone
Only history and tone
For this
Freedom fighter ooh,
Freedom fighter
Illustration by Chimwemwe Luwanda
Illustration by Chimwemwe Luwanda
by Franklin Rashid
This love
Will love be stable some day?
Will it ever perform without its duty despite our status
Our races
Our financial stability
Despite all the differences among us all?
Love
Will it ever stop moving with hate besides it?
Will it ever love as it's name says?
Will it ever stop making us its victims?
Will love ever love?
Love brings pride
Happiness
Calmness
Courage
Love brings Smile
When it fades away its a source of depression
Love
Will Love ever love?
I hate you love!
by Faridah Kahn
Edith Ulamba
Rabecca Morocco
Tadala Deleki
Hajila Kalenga
Chrissy Haley
Regina Nanjiyaya
Hildar Phale
Ester was a superhero, but no one knew. In addition to her being a superhero, she was beautiful and kind. Everyone in the village admired her. They admired her behavior, looks, and everything she did. She was an example to the village and her smile was like a bright shining sun. Everyone loved her and her parents loved her too. Ester was beautiful as a bright morning star. She was a friend to all the people: the young, the elders, the poor, the rich, the disabled, and everybody in the village.
One day Ester was coming from the garden when she met a man. Ester asked the man if she could help him to carry the box for him. The man refused her help. As Ester continued with her journey to her house, the man called her to stop. And Ester stopped to listen to what the man wanted to tell her.
The man started to admire her looks. He started telling her that she was beautiful and she had nice legs and she was coloured. The man told her she had good body structure.
Ester said thank you to the man and she wanted to continue with her journey. The man stopped her and told her that he had feelings for her. And Ester was so surprised. Ester answered the man that she had no interest in him. She was interested in her future. And the man left without saying any word. The people in the village heard what happened. The people in the village were proud of her and she became an example to everyone, especially to girls.
