THE POETRY OF NTATE MOTHEANE

Now A Days Poetry (Book)

Poems by Kgang Abel Motheane

Review by Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga

It is importantly requisite to reckon that poetry as a literary genre is genially appreciated by lot of people throughout the world.  Poetry in general has many thrilling-meaningful roles it plays in people’s lives.    Absolutely, it can be expressed in many different contexts, for instance it can be sonnet or elegy etc.  William Shakespeare is one of the celebrated writers the world ever had and apart from writing as many plays he also wrote a few long poems, and a sequence of enormous sonnets. 

Nevertheless, today in the globally interconnected world information is something easy to access and when it comes to poets and poetry in particular, amazingly lot can be known. For centuries the world has produced pre-eminent bards like William Shakespeare, Emily Brontë, Thomas Hardy, D H Lawrence, T S Eliot, Olive Schreiner, William Plomer, GrabrielOkara, Chinua Achebe, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali, Mongane Wally Serote, Chris van Wyk, Woly Soyinka, CharlseMungoshi, Maya Angelou etc. 

Underlying, as one encountered with the book of poetry by Kgang Abel Motheane one will obviously feel fascinated.  His poetry book “Now a Days Poetry” is very colourful, it contained various subjects.  The style and the manner in which these poems are written evinces clearly that Mr.Motheane is one of those outstanding bards that utterly deserved to be acclaimed.  As I read them, I’ve noticed that the poems are veritable and worthy to be enjoyed with profound delectation.  Surely these awe-inspiring poems are dazzling, readable and riveting. 

The author with his unalloyed imaginative fervour was not lethargic, neither his poems are monotonous but instead his poems are impressively gripping.  The bard through his stunning creativity has written the poems meticulously and with arrant enthusiasm.  They are considerable and dramatically exquisite to whet the appetite.  Imperatively, the poems incredibly touch practical dimensions which are pertinent to human existence.  They contained very splendid guidance and some odious issues that are lachrymose.

It will be better to briefly highlight some of these poems as they are intending to uplift humanity by promoting love, peace and sincerity in life.  Furthermore, there are other interesting poems in this book that pays tribute to literary icons like Chief O Bolaji and Flaxman Qoopane.  To emphasise further, there are also those poems that significantly acknowledge meritoriously former Minister of Finance of South Africa Mr. Trevor Manuel (Of Budget and all that) and Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Children’s Fund.  

Exhortation to the Youth

Again and again, avoid drugs

Keep H.I.V in abeyance

The channels you opened will be fulfilled

My beautiful youths please be in touch

With your heart’s feelings and desires

Have passion, love and sincerity

I Have to Talk

I  have to talk about our children

They must be careful and not indulge in drugs

Don’t abscond from school

Get involved in healthy pursuits like sports

They must respect their teachers and friends 

Be Always Yourself

Do not always stay behind the other people

Go ahead and be positive the world may respect you

Remember being yourself, demand big nature of yourself,

Be cool and think wise and be alert

In actual fact, the poems in this book are very enchanting.  They have a strong message to the youth and as well as to the general population.  These are poems that make life animated and cheerful.  Now a Days Poetry by Kgang Abel  Motheane deals mostly with issues that affect humanity in general.  Again the author could not conceal his fervent feelings about his wife.  

He also wrote an elegy to his wife-something which is stupendously cracking. One of the renowned bards Theodore Roethke wrote an elegy for Jane.  He has proved one of the most influential poets on the American scene in the twentieth century.  The brilliant proficiency of Mr. Motheane in cultivating such gargantuan book of poems is really sublime.  The poems “Unexpected death go back, Grave hopeless coward and The sudden death” can be apposite examples to prove that Motheane is the captivating bard.  By reading the poems one can reminisce about John Donne holy sonnet “Death be not proud”.

Published by: Motheane Associates

Contents

1.     Exhortation to the youth

2.     About myself

3.     I have to talk

4.     Thanksgiving to my best friend

5.     Of hills and hurdles

6.     Of budget and all that

7.     Communicate with confidence

8.     Brotherly love

9.     Unexpected death go back

10. Grave hopeless coward

11. Have always friend next to you

12. As you wish

13. The winter wind

14. Feeling lonely

15. The rainfall

16. A friend indeed

17. The tongue

18. My best love and passion

19. Place without taste

20. Bloemfontein plea

21. Be always yourself

22. Boy scout be prepared

23. The library

24. Poetry pleasures

25. Never abuse others

26. Beware of soil erosion

27. The song of love

28. The things I like best

29. The forest

30. Listen carefully to your true feeling

31. Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela Children Fund

32. The friendship

33. Poem to a friend

34. The city without love and peace

35. The sudden death

36. Drought

37. Art of being a child

38. Express yourself to new experience

39. Poem for a deceased poet

40. Poetry to a best friend

41. Poem to my dearest wife