Everything Has Changed (Except Graves) by Mzi Mahola

About the Poet – Mzi Mahola (Mzikayise Winston Mahola)

• Born in 1949 in Lushington, Eastern Cape.
• Lived with grandparents until age 12, then moved to Port Elizabeth.

Education:

• Lovedale College & Healdtown (started writing poetry here).
• Later studied at Fort Hare University.

Writing Career:

• Started writing poetry in school but resumed seriously in 1989.
• Published in national and international journals.
• Name is inscribed at New Brighton Library Wall of Fame for his contributions to community development.

Themes in Poetry:

• Childhood experiences in farming communities.
• Exposure to nature, hardships, and moral values.
• Commentary on post-apartheid South Africa, highlighting both progress and disappointment.

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Summary of the Poem

• The speaker returns to his childhood town and school, which is now abandoned and in ruins.
• He reflects on his teachers' dedication and the impact of education in his life.
• The school building is in decay, with broken windows and a damaged roof.
• The church next to the school has been renovated, but it has changed from a Dutch Reformed Church (used by white people) to a Methodist Church (more inclusive).
• The only thing that remains unchanged is the graves, which are sometimes cleaned by white people.

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Key Themes

Change vs. Constancy

• Everything has changed except the graves, symbolizing the persistence of history and memory.

Loss & Nostalgia

• The speaker feels saddened by the deterioration of his childhood surroundings.

Apartheid & Transformation

• The poem contrasts the oppressive past with the present changes, questioning whether real progress has been made.

Decay & Neglect

• The ruins symbolize the neglect of the past, possibly reflecting on the broken promises of post-apartheid South Africa.

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Poetic Devices & Analysis

Device	Example	Effect
Imagery	"Ruins of my former school"	Evokes a sense of decay and abandonment
Contrast	Church has changed, but graves remain the same	Highlights superficial vs. deeper change
Symbolism	Graves	Represents history, memory, and the past
Tone	Nostalgic, melancholic	Expresses disappointment and loss

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