Ode to Formaldehyde by Nkateko Masinga

[tabby title="Poem"] To barter with one’s body sans care,one should have a horse in the race:papers stating a life worth its acres,a call to the bluff of the health scare. I secured a burial site for the sacredpuzzle of bones...

Peripartum Pantoum by Nkateko Masinga

[tabby title="Poem"] My baby chrysanthemumMama’s eternal chrysalisFuneral song before birth“For this child I’ve prayed” Mama’s internal chrysalis  Enantiomers of her fierce For this child I have paled May light meet my wound Enantiomer of her fearsMama’s maternal crisis May light eat my woundDissolve...

Biblically Inaccurate Angels by Nkateko Masinga

[tabby title="Poem"] to describe an angel in biblical detailwithout fearing the eyes on its wings clusters upon clusters of ocularson whirring wheels within wheelscelestial chariots sans boarders is to declare sight secondary to flightto acknowledge provision over vision to charge...

A Firefly In Wing Therapy by Nkateko Masinga

[tabby title="Poem"] I am a convert to the religion of the tortured torso.My cell is your chest; its heave, hues & heavinessthe triplet heavens I beckon for eternal residence.My hymn book: your voice on dusky autumn days. I reel you...

A Firefly On A Conveyor Belt by Nkateko Masinga

[tabby title="Poet Bio"] I watch my past spin and spin, sickenedby my body’s blunt refusal to lunge at it. I lack the enthusiasm required to grabwhat is mine and admit that it is mine. Who, when meeting again what has...