to describe an angel in biblical detail
without fearing the eyes on its wings
clusters upon clusters of oculars
on whirring wheels within wheels
celestial chariots sans boarders
is to declare sight secondary to flight
to acknowledge provision over vision
to charge life into one flatlining chest
to smear ink onto two aging portraits
it is noble it is pure it is good however
on the day that i denounce my beliefs
remind me that beauty was part-myth
that terror is what took me to God
and error is what made me mortal
drawing biblically inaccurate angels
on your skin is how i said i love you
Nkateko Masinga is an award-winning South African writer whose poetry has been translated into French, Bengali, Kannada and Tamil. Her latest poetry book, ‘Daughter Wound’, was published by Hazel Press in 2024.