I’ve searched for life,
In deep breaths my lungs filled with death.
I’ve searched for love,
In warmth I embraced dancing in dread.
I’ve searched for joy,
In folds I folded in the arms of despair.
And still,
Half a man I search.
Half a man,
I find,
In half a glass over the bar.
Ntsako Layn is a performance poet, questioning themes of identity, masculinity, and existence. He is often the quietest in the room, easy to overlook but the stage remembers him. He pours his soul into his poetry, and poetry pours directly back into him. His work leans into vulnerability and lived memory, using gentle imagery and emotional honesty to explore the soft places we hide. Whether on page or stage, Ntsako writes to understand himself, to honour his wounds, and to turn his quiet into something that speaks.