Speaking to the reality our youth face every day, Dylan Booysen, Grade 9 learner and member of the Lynedoch Youth Programme, shared some of his powerful poetry at the Valley Festival earlier this month.
UNITY
by soldaat
An United Nation
Can never be defeated
We all want to achieve great things in life
But we all seated
In today’s life we see teenagers
Pregnant
Addicted to drugs and alcohol
We see young girls are getting raped
Thrown away
Just like a pie that’s over-baked
An United states
Can never be defeated
You endured pain
Tears rolling down your face
With big eyes
Hands in your hair
You screamed
Have you forgotten
You part of this team
Let’s work like a team
Be seen as a team
But all we doing is breaking down it seems
An United Nation
Can never be defeated
Looting
Shooting
Polluting
That’s all we see
In 30-years time is that how it’s gonna be
Children crying
People dying
Is that how it’s gonna be
You all want a better life
When it comes to the 30th or 31st
You all want a better life
But why do you rob the old people with a 10cm knife
You all want a better life
Most people receive social grants
But still most are breaking down shops
Just remember there are people now waiting for social grants
For several months
You destroying
Breaking down
Mis-leading this nation
This nation
Over and over government are telling you to be patient
Is this really happening
You already have enough to achieve more in life
But still
You breaking down shops
Breaking the law and running from the cops
You making it hard for others to live
Just like the electricity grid in South Africa
We all connected
We all need each other to survive
But can’t you make an effort to realise
By doing that you not going to receive a price
Just take two seconds to realise
An United Nation
Can never be defeated
Rape
Abuse
Gangsterism
If you go through that that’s pain
Trust me you wouldn’t like it
But why do it to others
Today’s world needs mother’s
Today’s world needs father’s
That can stand up
Men up
Keep their head up
And fill their rightful positions
As father’s
As mother’s
An United Nation
Can never be defeated
South Africa
Filled with diverse cultures
Foods
Languages
We all know what’s in the country
But everytime we break the law
We cross the boundaries
Remember we all connected
A happy meal together
Will make the kindness for each other
Last forever
One compliment can change a person’s life
So that they don’t become scared and walk around with a knife
What we going to do
From orthophoto landscape views
To people hearing
Burning malls and schools on the news
Is that what you want to see
One child loosing their education
If so why do I have a right to education
Why does the right Even exist
Why that
Why this
What happened with your kindness
A united nation
Can never be defeated
You want your children to be successful one day
You want them to take care of you
But you not a good example
You a bad toxic sample
To negativity
To a negative outcome
No
This has to stop
You making it hard for the cops
Some even lost their life’s
Families mourned
Would you like it
To be hurt
To be in tears
All because of you and your reckless behaviour with your peers
Stealing beers
Millions of rands lost within a day
Now you standing there having nothing to say
Brother
Sister
All you got to do is just to kneel down and begin to pray
So that God can save us
Shape us
So keep your mask on
When families mourn
Children crying till dawn
Let’s improve until the new generation is born
My Moto
Push beyond your limits
Make a change
And be that change
For a better future
For you
For me
Your children
Their children
Don’t worry yours is mine
And mine is yours
Rather than breaking down
Go do your daily chores
An United Nation
Can never be defeated
A happy meal together
Will make the kindness for each other
Last forever
One compliment can change a person’s life
But one smile
Can change the world
Make it a better place
For future generations
My Moto
Push beyond your limits
A united nation
United people
A united country
Can never be defeated
My life isn’t easy
But do you see me giving up
Breaking down
NO
I simply bend down on my knees
Guys please
Be you
But be a better you
For a better future b
Better life
Better world
But just be a better you
A united nation
United people
United country
Can never be defeated
I’m the movies it says the following
One for all
And all for one
Now let’s make it a reality
If one falls we all suffer
Currently we all down
But remember
We all down but we all can help each other
If one needs a leg
Let’s go be that leg
If the president needs our eyes
Let’s go be that eyes
No lies
For that you going to receive a price
A better future
A better world
A united nation
United people
A united country
Can never be defeated
Let’s stop what we doing and open our eyes
Let’s realise
That tomorrow is like a suprise
You never know what lies ahead
A united country
Can never be defeated………………..
Dylan Booysen/soldaat