Poetry by Londeka Mdluli

Ch#ngeling

The bin(ry orch(rds remind me 
of your Pic(sso f(ce.
The cement (ir between your 
lips, even (fter ye(rs you (re 
still the voice from where birds 
le(pt, where the dim sky still 
follows you like mild robbers, 
where the clicking of your 
shoes silences the de(d m(n 
(nd your (rms, like two p(irs of 
white lilies, served (s dinner on 
tombs

Le#ves in w#ter

They bloom just (s summer 
perpetu(ted,
The m(rvel d(res to ride the 
w(ve pushing (nd pulling the 
s(nd out of the w(ter, The fuse 
like fire resurf(ces to burn (g(in
We w(it for springtime, 
t(lking to the trees, they 
h(rmed, we listened jingle 
bells ringing from
door hinges
In October the le(ves (flo(t 
the w(ter, our sins hop on the 
green scooters (nd c(rry us 
onto the shore,
We l(y on our b(cks (nd 
w(tched (s October w(s cut to 
pieces by helicopters.




Immigr#tion

They le(ve the w(r before the 
w(ter comes, they stood still 
with their sticks in
silence (nd the tide w(shed 
(w(y empty mouths, Ghosts 
hung over w(ves hoping to 
return home, but it is night time 
(nd there (re no more bones 
left to sing to, (nd I (m no 
Coyote to dr(g the le(ves out 
of the w(ter.