Soos met jou neighbour, Courtney,
Het ons jou ook versaak.
In helder dag het hy jou gevat,
Hoekom het ons nie oor jou gewaak?
Vir dae het jou Mammie geglo jy kom terug.
Nooit het sy ophou glo –
Selfs deur haar swoeg en sug.
Tronk was nie sy rehab
Parool het hom verlei
Bloed is weer aan sy hande
‘n kindjie, jy Taznè, moes toe weer ly.
Elsies, Elsies, hoekom
Laat ons die dinge gebeur?
Nog ‘n kind, nog ‘n traan
Werk die cops nie meer?
Ons is sorry Taznè
Nie dat dit nou sal baat
Dat jy jou lewe so,
So wreed moes verlaat.
Mag jy en Courtney en ander
Ons dade sal aanwakker
Dat ons as communities
Ons gat in rat sal kry.
Dat ons skel na daad sal change.
Ons weg kyk ‘n rondom ons kyk sal raak.
Ons weer ons kinders sal laat kind.
En geeneen weer sal versaak.
Sorry Taznè.
Theolla works at the University of the Western Cape, whilst studying an Honours in Women & Gender Studies part-time. Her poetry and short fiction have been featured in anthologies and magazines such as Kuier Tydskrif or IOL’s Landisa Project. She published Die Here kom sterk deur, in 2023, which received the Cape Flats Literary Award for Teenagers’ Books. She’s since received three more Cape Flats Literary Awards for her contribution to literature and for best poem for "Hou jou bek". Her debut novel, Soetroos van Saron, is soon to be published by Kwela Books. But she says her favourite story is being a mom and wife.
One thought on “Sorry Taznè”
Many of our stories are heartbreaking. Other stories of coming from our communities
are motivational. The blood of our children on the streets are calling us respond. Thanks to everyone who are taking up the challenge. Thank you Theolla.