perhaps a spark, an inkling
of possibility beyond desire
perhaps a raging forest fire
perhaps we slow dance
naked in a burning room
perhaps we try to outrun it all
the wars, the revolving door
of R.I.Ps and I’m sorry’s the
fires the fire the fir the fi…
perhaps we whisper
a sweet winged hello
a firefly in the palm of God
Nkateko Masinga is an award-winning South African writer whose poetry has been translated into French, Bengali and Tamil. Her next poetry book, ‘Daughter Wound’, will be published by Hazel Press in 2024.