She was dark when I first moved in,
Built only to shelter
Me, myself, and I.
Every night I lay my head
Upon that bed-like frame,
And every dawn
My dreams are absorbed
By her silent walls.
Every burden I carry
Is buried within her.
If only she knew how to speak,
She would tell you
How badly I long
To see the horizon.
She has never seen the world,
Yet she has taught me
How to stand against it.
My African Queen.
With my head beneath her roof,
I believe I can conquer the world.
Though I have not yet reached
The place I dream of,
I remain beneath her protection.
When the wind howls through the night,
She never lets it steal my peace.
When shadows gather in the darkness,
They never dare lay a hand on me,
For she stands between us
Without saying a word.
Through winter’s bitter cold
And summer’s burning heat,
She keeps me close.
She asks for nothing,
Yet gives me everything—
Shelter, warmth,
Silence,
And hope.
One day I will leave her walls,
Not because I have outgrown her,
But because she prepared me
For the world beyond her door.
Until then,
Every dream I dream,
Every prayer I whisper,
And every tomorrow I believe in
Begins here—
In my room.
Xihluke Mlangeni is a South African poet born in Tzaneen, Limpopo, and raised in the small rural village of Burgersdorp. His poetry is deeply rooted in the experiences of growing up in the countryside, where hardship, hope, family, and faith shaped both his character and his voice.
At the age of fourteen, following the passing of his father, Xihluke discovered poetry as a way to transform grief into purpose. What began as a personal escape soon became a lifelong passion for telling stories that speak to the human spirit. His work explores themes of identity, love, loss, resilience, home, and the pursuit of dreams, drawing inspiration from everyday life and the quiet strength found in ordinary people. His poems, including *Alone*, *My Room*, *Keep Them Close*, and *Life*, have been published online and reflect his distinctive, heartfelt style.
Now 27 years old, Xihluke lives in Johannesburg, where he continues to write and develop his craft. He believes that poetry is more than words—it is a voice for those who struggle to express their deepest emotions. Through his writing, he hopes to inspire readers to embrace hope, remain resilient through adversity, and find beauty in even the simplest moments of life.
For Xihluke, every poem is a journey, every line carries a memory, and every word is written with the belief that stories have the power to heal, inspire, and outlive the people who tell them.