.png)
by Frank Malaba
When we’re born, Skin the texture of bubbles, Hair like candyfloss to the touch… We’re like a tuft of the universe’s ponytail, Clipped off yet precious, valued, not forgotten. We are the scent of stardust and Wield heavenly memory in our tiny, clenched fists. For moments, we unleash the cry of longing for What we’ve left behind in pursuit of the taste of beauty That’s curtailed by mortality’s scythe. Our eyes enter this realm in temporary blindness, Shying away from eager gazes expecting Much too much from our newly exposed being. We wait to see a new slate of what lies before us, Be it good, bad, or benign. Our piercing scream announces our presence, Much like a town crier’s bullhorn declaring the arrival Of an ancient soul inhabiting a new sheath of flesh. We’re here. To settle. To re-remember. To balance earth and sky. To forever juggle good and bad. Never the neutral, for neutrality is omnipresent. It cradles the kindling for the spark each of us carries To fuel what has the potential to ignite brilliance, mediocrity, good or bad. That, and the miracle that our very presence here In this space and time is in itself against A billion odds that could have prevented Our existence in this realm. Written by Frank Malaba
Frank Malaba is a Zimbabwean writer, poet, and LGBTQIA+ activist. He is known for his works on queer identity, African masculinity, and mental health. Malaba's writing often addresses the experiences of being a gay man in Africa and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the region. He has been published in several literary journals and anthologies, and has performed his poetry at various events and festivals. Additionally, Malaba is an advocate for mental health awareness and often speaks about his own struggles with depression and anxiety. He currently has two touring productions: Stories of My Bones and The Chaos of Belonging. In 2014 Frank was recognized by Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans as an Achiever in the category of Arts & Culture. View all posts by Frank Malaba: https://frankmalaba.wordpress.com/ Social media: https://linktr.ee/frankmalabaFrank Malaba Prosetry
Frank, this is a marvelous piece. It touched me on so many levels beginning with the newborn unwilling to let go of bliss to enter the chaos of another dimension.