When you’ve drunk every drop
the night offers,
the sunrise will expose your ex
perched on your tear ducts.
Your hangover spills all the tea
of your shame-filled night.
Tells the world of how your ex
appeared more vividly in each sip.
How her image was reflected in each bottle
of your favourite bar.
Last night lies stale on your tongue.
Your exhales proclaim your undying love
for her
& your attempt to exorcise her scent.
Your persistence in emptying yourself
of her
brings you back to the bar counter.
This is how you spill into another Night.
Tshepo Molefe (he/him) is an award-winning poet, theatremaker, and writer with over a decade of experience. His work includes his poetry anthologies aptly named The Brown Bottle Series and Eternal Echoes. Molefe is also a WordnSound Open Mic League winner (2017) and placed in the top five at the 2025 Poetry Africa Slam Jam competition.