Amorous

By Tapiwa.

May it be real, authentic
May I not beg for once
I need to feel its genuine
Raw nature.

Many faces have proclaimed their love
Masks harbouring grisly intentions
My heart is tethered
It moves through my bones and skin too.

Anguished by guilt
I pity thyself
Because here I am asking from the universe
“Let it be different.”

I wish not to be strong
I wish not to provide
I wish not to give everything for nothing
My pride.

I do not want to be silly
Remorseful
For my love
Always brings me back to the same place.

But this time I ask not to return.

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Tapiwa. is a Botswana-based poet whose evocative verses are meant to bring light to the hidden challenges of mental health and recovery in Botswana. Tapiwa.’s poetry focuses on themes of inner struggle until hope and healing is found, it emphases the importance of certain aspects when it comes to understanding and healing the mind, to finally find peace and content. Her work confronts stigma with raw honesty, weaving personal and collective experiences into lyrical reflections that resonate deeply. She also brings awareness to how the difficulties of having mental challenges, and the thought patterns that arise in the process, can sometimes lead to suicide. A dedicated voice for mental health awareness, when not writing, she uses music and dance to bring joy and healing to people’s lives. Tapiwa. has published her first novel Ladybug-Moon on Wattpad and a short novel called Equanimity on Facebook and continues to find more ways to share her art with the world.