ashes of hate
(2023)

even when the eyes
of our memory
refuse to wash away
wounds of gukurahundi  
we will march up 
to the mountain top 
of peace 
& forgiveness
our big hearts 
housing 
a million galaxies 
we will rinse 
our timid past 
under the boiling water 
of mosi-oa-tunya  
& mana pools
we will 
seek refuge
in the healing 
& warm  
sounds of mbira 
stench of dictatorship 
will die  
when a tower of tribalism 
is demolished 
our eyelids will burn 
with fires 
of hope
when hunger turns 
us into beggars 
in foreign lands

lines for tsitsi
(2023)

when you crossed the limpopo river 
with a shangaan bag 
full of hopes 
& dreams

escaping the house 
of hunger 

unaware 
that you would end up 
on polly street

your silky thighs 
devoured 
by joburg winter

aggressively chewed 
by vicious men  
for no pay

no shoulder to cry on
when the crocodile
unexpectedly swallowed
mugabe 

your ululation of thunder 
cracked the solid walls 
of carlton centre
my afrikan sister

& your dance
shook the ground 
of ponte city