So, this is it, then?
This is how the story ends:
a sorrowful soul that finds its way
to your doorstep.
I did not envision the end
to be such a contrast to the beginning.
I didn’t imagine a time when my smooth skin
would trade its smoothness for roads
that weave themselves into palatable tales.
This crown of silver and grey,
these eyes that make shadows appear,
even up close.
This body now feels lighter
than when I first wore it.
I thought there would be time to find you.
But despite the mileage on my feet,
our paths never fully crossed.
I know I’m supposed to fear what fate has planned;
I know I should have known this soul was never mine but yours.
Even now, lying across the room
while the TV confidently promises your return
if this is it, then I am somewhat disappointed
that you must take back the soul you rented to me.
Collen Molahlehi is a poet and an engineering student based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His poetry is centred around the themes of love, grief, and mental health. He has been published in anthologies in South Africa, the USA, and the UK. He won first prize in the AVBOB Mini-Poetry Competition in 2025, after having placed third in 2021 and 2024.