Ukube bengingaphuza ukukhanya kwemibalabala
Khona bengizoziphakamisa ngakho
Ngizisusele ukhwantalala lwami olubuthuntu
Kepha kukhona isigujana somuthi, ikhambikazi lobulili
Engingekwazi ukuphila ngaphandle kwalo
Ngizijova ngalo esikhunjeni
Lingilungisa isifo sami sokuba nomzimba ongangifanele
Ngiphenduka umungcwi ngaphandle kwekhambi lami
Isithunzela sowesifazane esisidumbu saso sidliwa ubudoda
Ukube ngangingase ngiphuze impilo yemibalabala
Ebengithenjiswa yona ngingakazalwa
English description:
‘Ikhambikazi’ is a poem about a transgender person’s experience with gender-affirming hormone therapy, how it changes the body, and what one becomes without it.
Sarah Guinevere Smit is a PhD candidate in Historical Studies at the University of Cape Town, and a writer of poetry and fiction in English, isiZulu, and Afrikaans.