Dancing isn’t always for joyous days
I’ve saved my feet
For the blue face of the sky
My head has looked up
At the rotting of the clouds
I clumsily caressed a hope
That lost its fur at each trembling stroke
These clouds seem quite disgusted
At my shedding courage
This wait is an insult to a heart that has hoped and hoped
I’ve now learned to hold lightning
By the hand, to move with the times of this ____ as it is.
So I’ve stopped waiting for the music
and this is the first time I have truly danced at my burning breath
Luleka Mhlanzi is a South African published and performing poet, actress, creative writer and a youth facilitator who is currently based in Pietermaritzburg. She is an agent of change for South Africa where she has begun exercising such in various youth change programs such as; Gold Peer Education, Enke Youth Forum, PACSA, Activate Change Drivers and currently a youth programmes facilitator at Heartnet where she also curates poetry sessions.
Luleka has recently established a project called Beauty Revised after that responds to a stereotype of beauty standards set by society, growing up she was bullied about her dark skin colour and was deemed ugly. This project seeks a return of confidence to little girls and women excluded by society.
As a poet, she has performed for national and international festivals like 23rd Poetry Africa, Poets You Should Know(Kenya ), UMzimkhulu Tourism Festival, Poet In A Suit , Maritzburg Film and Arts Festival and more. She has been published by Austin International Poetry Anthology (USA) ; Living Black (poetry) and Fearful Gods (poetry). She has also been published by Sunday Independent newspaper; Living Black (poetry)
Luleka Mhlanzi has also compiled a collection of poems ; Confiscated Identity that she will release on the 31st of May 2021.
As an actress, Luleka starred on an award-winning short film; The Beast, directed by Samantha Nell(SA) and Michael Wahrmann(Brasil).