the only time noise feels welcome
is when I’m
screaming u n d e r w a t e r
where the radio’s song filters through like rain
static-soaked, submerged in silence.
noise is allowed when guests arrive,
and they want to dance,
so you let the floodgates open, spill laughter on the floor.
the neighbours forget, just this once,
that this house drowns in its own stillness.
Basetsana is a digital designer and spoken word poet from South Africa. She is passionate about touching upon themes of girlhood, self-discovery, and identity through her poetry. Basetsana has published a book of poems, entitled Handprint, while also currently compiling a chapbook addressing the topic of Stuck In A Kaleidoscope. The sense of self in her poetry are quite integral to her experiences.