Ukuthanda Ongakuthandi by Nkululeko Zondi

Ukuthanda ongakuthandi
Ukungathandwa omthandayo
Bese ungamthandi okuthandayo
Okuthandayo abone akathandwa
Kuqhutshwa iskhathi naye
Kuqhutshwa iskhathi ngaye
Kulindwe ongakathandi
Kulindwe ongathandi
Kulindwe ongeke athande
Ulindiwe nje naye ulindisiwe
Ulindisiwe naye akathandwa
Kuqhutshwa iskhathi naye
Kuqhutshwa iskhathi ngaye
Kulindwe ongakathandi
Kulindwe ongathandi
Kulindwe ongeke athande

Nhliziyo yami, xola
Uyathandwa noma ungathandwa
Awuthandwa noma uthandwa
Okuthandayo awumthandi
Omthandayo akukuthandi
Omthandayo akathandwa amthandayo
Ongamthandi unaye omthandayo
Into nje, aluqondani
Into nje, aluqondakali
Mhlawumbe ukube luyaqondana
Mhlawumbe ukube luyaqondakala
Ngabe luyabona kodwa aluboni.

This piece of poetry talks about the complexities of love; to love someone who does not love you and not love the person who loves you not realising that that person is also in the same dilemma as you of not being loved by that one person they love. It is an ongoing dilemma going in circles.

Nkululeko Zondi writes English and isiZulu poetry. He is from Soweto, Johannesburg. He has been published in various poetry circles such as FundZa, Poetry Potion and Aerodrome.