For he has not lived long enough
to see his curtains capture
the beauty of your stars shooting
every wish he has made to the universe in vain.
We now spread his ashes in a lake
that he couldn’t even swim in when he was still alive.
They say he’s resting yet his pictures continue
collecting dust, instead of warming hearts.
For he has not lived long enough
to see his mother’s pride when he wears
the robe of his mother’s labour.
Your will was supposed to find a way,
Eternity was not supposed to write his name
Alongside those whose seeds will never taste rain.
Collen Molahlehi is a South African published poet and short story writer whose work has been
featured in a number of poetry anthologies, namely: Inscribed Reveries, Shadow of the Soul, Letting
in the light, and Mental Health. He is a two-time, third-placed winner, of the themed 2021 and
2024 AVBOB mini-poetry competition. Outside of writing, he is an artist and an engineering student,
who enjoys watching nature documentaries.