New budding flowers are poking through the earth Cottonwoods are irritating my allergies The sky is a brilliant, bright blue Fluffy white clouds Warm sunlight on a glistening river Summer just around the corner. An awards show and pictures and proud smiles and excitement - Summer break just around the corner. Laughter turned to terror As the gunman came around the corner.
I thought you were the one. The one who would love me And take care of my heart. Love denied once again. I still feel the pain, hurt, and suffering From past and present relationships. Where time and time and time again I exposed my mind, my heart, my soul… Only to feel the cold steel dagger From an unaffectionate lover, that wears a façade Laced with poison dreams and romance That is meant to kill the rose before it bloo...
Labels. There are so many labels now. And it's confusing And scary And amazing Because I finally know where I fit These didn't exist when we were all finding ourselves Though I paused finding myself to hide myself in the identities of others. We, not me. I'm still finding me But I know pieces I am a business owner I am a writer I am a line cook I am a bookworm I am she/they I'm somewhere in the Rainbow Club I want to shou...
The ocean has ears. It has heard me. I am a mermaid. Do not listen to my song As you will wallow in deep sorrow. I can't be with you. The cloud has eyes. It has seen me. I am a wanderer. Do not follow my path When you can't handle your wrath. I mustn't be with you. The wind has emotions It has felt me. I am a dreamer. Do not plan a future with me With thoughts of reality. I won't be with you.
Just that—a moment. Not a life resolving, world changing event. Trivial, you will think it. But for me, a just-turned-sixteen, raw, callow adolescent with little knowledge of the way of the world, it was a mind stirring, almost upsetting moment, recalled here from decades gone by. Kate was my cousin, and I was one month her junior. She was the daughter of my mother’s sister, my Aunt Rita living in Middlesex. I still have...
I hate it when we argue, it always ends the same. Both of us spit venom, as we try to place the blame. You scared me when we had that tiff, by storming out the door. You told me that you hate me, don’t love me anymore. Why can’t we just agree, to never scream and shout? It really doesn’t matter now; you’ve really freaked me out. Did we really have to argue? Say all the things we said? I lie here wide awake at night; your...
23rd of May – Season 3 AT NGELOSI CITY HALL Mandla wasn’t sure what he was going to say but he knew what he had say. He was currently sitting outside his father’s office in Ngelosi City Hall. There was no sound except the clicking of a keyboard as the Deputy Mayor’s secretary, Sindiwe, typed away at her desktop. Mandla had been waiting so long that he was sure that his father had forgotten about him until the door opened...
Born at night. Tossed at first chance. Alleyway to stoop. Hunger her only home. What is love? Or smiles to keep. Head hung low. Matted fur, Stumbes on. Frozen paws, In the falling snow. Brow eye girl. Born rich. No mothers love. Raised with whispers. Told her fault. Everyone knew. Home cold, Never a hug. Or story read. Had to leave. Walking in the snow. 6th street bridge, Calls her. Nothing to hold her, Anymore. Snowy lum...
17th of May – Season 3 Dear Diary, For the past three years, people have told me that when I signed up to become an F-X reporter that I was flushing an otherwise promising career down the toilet. And who could blame them? Unlike my fellow resident reporters, I was in my early thirties when I signed up with Formula-X. I didn’t need the experience and I was capable of starting my own media enterprise. So the question became...
9th of May – Season 3 Temper hated this part. But he knew that it was necessary as he stood up in front of the anonymous group of people and prepared to speak. “My name is Themba Kunene and I am angry…” The session had gone on how it usually did which left Temper bored more than anything. It was only when it was over and he walked out of the hall of the Civic Centre did the day get interesting. It was the woman sitting on...
I can’t remember exactly when I first saw the factory. I know I always passed it on my walk to school. Even without looking at it, you were aware of its existence. For a start, there was the smell. Not a smell that is easy to describe, just a smell. It wasn’t there all the time, just when the prevailing winds allowed it to drift over our house. And then there were the sounds. Once again, I find them hard to describe. If I...
Been looking through your albums, of photos old and new. So many loving memories, of good times shared with you. All those precious moments, and flashbacks through the years. I’ve studied each one carefully, I even shed some tears. I wanted something different, with your birthday drawing near. Not take another snapshot, like every other year. Don’t need another photograph, that no one else will see. I’ve locked a lover’s...
2nd of May – Season 3 Devì was pissed. She was losing money and she knew why. It was the Koeks. They’d spread the rumors that the app didn’t work. That was the reason that she was currently sitting in her lawyer’s office, awaiting a response to her question. “I’m sorry Miss Pandey, but there’s nothing we can do.” “I told you to call me Devì and what do you mean there’s nothing you can do. You’re my lawyer aren’t you?” He...
In an instant, without warning, a feeling of unrelenting suffocation drops in the pit of my stomach. An intense twisting and turning, swirling like a category five hurricane. My breath shortened, gasping, looking for a means of escaping this internal agony. My head aching, pounding, pulsing like an underground rave of unwanted thoughts. To what extent do I deserve this punishment? You may question my morals or ethics, a m...
