Thirteen (Poetry) - by Class Twenty6

PREFACE Thirteen is about celebration, celebrating the birth of Class Twenty6. Class Twenty6 was officially established on 13th December, 2013, hence the number thirteen is significant to us. Thirteen is about reflection of why we do what we do as artists; whether it is writing, singing, drawing or any other type of art. Thirteen is a remembrance that God is the one who gave us gifts to proclaim His Name through art.

May you be blessed as you go through these pages, and always remember that God is every faithful.

Class Twenty6 Poets

THIRTEEN ©Class Twenty6™® 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS Thirteen Reasons ..............................................2 Thirteen Lines ..................................................2 Thirteenth Disciple...........................................3 Why I Write .....................................................3 The Priest .........................................................4 Ever Wondered ................................................4 Why I Write .....................................................5 Get This Off My Chest .....................................5 Why I Write .....................................................6

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THIRTEEN ©Class Twenty6™® 2022

THIRTEEN REASONS Derived Truth

THIRTEEN LINES Cornelius Mpesi

Thirteen reasons why, I cut open words, into phrases and sentences.

There is so much more, to explore As I uncover an arsenal It's like I am on a suicide mission To explode and be spent for Him

Well words are from the beginning The only friends I had Navigating the streams of Language barriers and Culture shock Words in the beginning were, The only way I could share Being a wretch and being immersed And drenched in His endless Love And now I don’t hide them I watch the Word write words out of me

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Like a sweet-smelling aroma Detonating the Gospel of peace 'Cause how beautiful are the feet And just like that I am undercover Another mission with the same vision To snatch the lost from the fiery fire So, I am bundled with more fire Psalm 45:1, I address my verses to the King

THIRTEEN ©Class Twenty6™® 2022

THIRTEENTH DISCIPLE Disciple Mac

WHY I WRITE Steve Phiri

Like a prime number Divisible by none Unpopular to many Yet valuable and primary Studying the 12 in the gospel Like I'm the untold 13th disciple

I write not to be right Am only being polite For of the world I am the light And I have to shine bright.

Bright shining as the sunlight

A disciple you won't hear much of Learning from the best Appointed by the Master Learning from others' mistakes So that I avoid the wrong path And take the right turn To graciously inherit the Kingdom

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I write because it is written Written not on the stone tablet but on the flesh heart I write because am inspired To write the inspired word And I write without omission Because am on a great commission I write not just as a right but beyond a rite.

THIRTEEN ©Class Twenty6™® 2022

THE PRIEST Christina C. Mpesi

EVER WONDERED Alphmax Makungwa

A paper and pencil met At the altar of a priest, the newspaper.

A crazy beginning, a great journey, Hopeful for a glorious ending.

Ever wondered why draw?

Well, many have wandered Because they don’t draw

Mouth eager to draw every imagination, Throat never ready for high vocals, But every hymn medley that had Him The mouth pronounced it the hymn of the King.

Those songs unsung, words unspoken, Prayers unuttered met at the altar of the Priest, The Alpha and Omega.

Therefore, let every word spoken, glory The Priest, And this is the reason I sing.

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Drawing Captures the imagination From that intricate dimension Into Our vivid tangible one I’ve ever wondered why I draw For one, I don’t want to wander For HE in the beginning Made me in His image Lest without it, I self-damage

THIRTEEN ©Class Twenty6™® 2022

WHY I WRITE Nathan Mwafulirwa

GET THIS OFF MY CHEST Loveness Kagwira

It`s not because I am a poet, For one may write and not be a poetess or poet.

Then what is it?

Is it that I may sound lyrical and be praised?

Will there be anything to boast of?

No! It is a gift From the Master I’ve received this, one, a talent.

From it that He may earn a 100% interest, Serving as the epistle of Christ.

With the necessity raid on my heart, To preach Christ and Him crucified, to win the lost.

And many will believe the written Word as it is written.

Get this off my chest The feeling of being inferior to superior The appeal of being nobody to somebody The act of being lowly to highly

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Get this off my chest For highly do I think of myself Lovely do I look I myself Mightily do I feel inside of me Wisely for I am in the head So, I will get this off my chest For I am powerful than you can imagine

THIRTEEN ©Class Twenty6™® 2022

WHY I WRITE Hamilton Kambalame

BECAUSE HE LOVES US Lucy Matiya

Art Is a basket Or a channel if you like That carries Hope With healing, on its wings And when it alights on the heart It flaps, and showers Glue like stuff from elsewhere That pieces the heart together And that heart Gasps "Oh thank God, am alive again"

Oh yes, God loves us He Laid down His life And He rose again So you and I can live with Him eternally I write To share His good news The prophesies of old The miracles of the gospels The early church, The church now and the world we live in, His creation And the life ahead Oh yes, He touched me Unto Him, be glory and honour forever

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THIRTEEN ©Class Twenty6™® 2022

THE END

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