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[somewhere-me]

a promised dance.

One day a saviour came. Told me that the township is deadly. Promised me dance. A promised dance that will lift me off and away from the dead. One day a saviour came with her black disciple. She was proof of this promised dance away from the dead. Her toes were turned out. Hearing her feet walking paths she couldn't follow. One day a saviour came. Her nasal instructions hid life so she could remind us to breathe. Oh she is so nice. 'Ngumlumnkazi otheni lo ufuna nimbize Mama.' My mother. The church choir singer who now has to walk to the choir practice by her self. 'Ngumlumkazi otheni lo ofuna nimbize mama? The teeth of the Moyikwa hymn book are black with koki. My name is buried under newly printed names of my twin cousins. Tuesdays are now for the promised dance. Ingoma ayisekho. One day I will tell you about the day I stopped being a child. The day I became a girl who were to be disciplined and developed enough to not be swallowed by the mouth of a the deadly township. A promised dance. A twirl. Lifting. Following nasal instructions.

by Nomcebisi Moyikwa

[somewhere-me]

a Promised fun(era)l photo.

A promised funeral photo. My aunt would tell me to keep this picture for my funeral. She collects funeral photos. Repetition of faces with eyes that need her. Smiles that were prayed for. Breathe that chose her. A body that waited with her. My aunt collects prayers. Prayers of a possible life. This is where my prayers wait. My aunts prayers are in a Saleshouse plastic bag. Alongside with her clinic card, old Grocotts newspapers, account letters from Lewis and Foschini. She keeps this plastic bag under her bed sheet. It waits there under old donki blankets. Mbongolo blankets. Ninjas for desperate springs coming out of her mattress.

by Nomcebisi Moyikwa.

[somewhere-me]

[somewhere-me]

to sing with you again.

i would love to sing with you again

learn from your bravado the lessons of deep love. 

you were always keen for harmonies

tones of joint prayers meeting in meaning. 

I would love to sing with you again

be held by the melodies of your longings 

[somewhere-me]

Zilinde

[somewhere-me]

FOR

NOM

[somewhere-me]

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