THE VOICES of young people were rewritten onto the pages of a fresh collection of poems that records raw feelings, untold stories and colourful imaginations from learners across the Durban South.

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Inkspired is a collection of more than 240 emerging poets’ work that weave together threads of loss and love, hope and resistance and shared humanity. The anthology, which was compiled by Amanzimtoti High School English teacher Sunitha Singh, was launched at the Eduvos Durban International Book Fair on August 14.

Singh said that the anthology was brought forth by a desire to amplify the voices of the youth.

“The idea behind this collection of poems is to give young people a platform to showcase their talents and at the same time reflect on the power of words and shared experiences, finding solace and comfort in the experiences of others. As a teacher, I firmly believe that learners need opportunities to extend themselves beyond the classroom,” said Singh.

Learners were encouraged to write their own poems and submit their work to be considered for Inkspired, creating content on whatever they felt compelled to. Singh said she was taken aback by the number and quality of the submissions.

Showcased in the anthology, among others, were Grade Nine learner Zekhethelo Zama and Grade 11 learner Lwandile Dube from New Forest High School.

Zekhethelo had two poems selected. Her poem, Relationships and Conflicts, describes her relationship with her sisters.

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“The poem is about my sisters and I, and how I hate when we fight. They are the only members of my home who I am really close to, so when we fight, the whole world seems to end,” said Zekhethelo.

Her second poem, My Dad, explores the complexities of her relationship with her father.

Zekhethelo said her poem being included was surreal. “Having my work published feels incredible. More than anything, it made me feel part of a community where people express themselves openly without judgment. Poetry has always been a coping mechanism for me, so being part of this community and anthology means a lot.”

For Lwandile, his poem, Fifteen and a Bullet, was raw and deeply personal.

“The poem is about losing one of my closest friends, who was shot when we were both 15. It was a case of wrong place at the wrong time. I saw him die and that trauma lingered with me. Writing this poem was a way for me to process his loss,” said Lwandile.

Having written poetry for four years, Lwandile said being published for the first time is an incredible feeling.

“It feels like my first big break into the poetry community. This is something that I will never forget about and I’m looking at taking a bigger step forward from here,” said Lwandile.

For Singh, compiling Inkspired was a labour of love.

“Although I do not know any of the contributors personally, their words have impacted me so deeply. Learners poured passion and hearts into their poems and in doing so challenged us to think about our world changing. Words can shift, heal and empower, Inkspired is evidence of that power,” said Singh.

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