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  • Breath of the Earth

    By Dr Teedzani Thapelo i stand here, lungs heavy with the ash of indifferencegrey tendrils curling like smoke from a fire that never coolsevery breath i take—half stolen, half given… Read more

  • Inheritance

    By Noah Vale I wrote a poem today and hated it And in its mirror, I hated me How can I love a woman when I grew up Thinking my… Read more

  • Contemplative Fantah

    By Mofenyi Kesego Contemplative Fantah portrays a young man leaning towards and looking out of a window. The beauty of this moment is the ambiguity of the pose: it’s hard… Read more

  • Women Are Sublime

    By Sethunya Hlobisa Matsie The kitchen where you stand, Pots hot and stoves ablaze, With spices you incite, A mouthful of tongues that dance. The plants in your garden, Gently… Read more

  • The Sea That Swallows Dreams

    By Dr Teedzani Thapelo i am adrifta body unmooredskin parched,dreams broken into shards of salt. the mediterranean whispersa monster without mercy,its tides are not waves but teeth gnashing, grinding relentless,pushing… Read more

  • We’re Back!

    Petlwana is back from hiatus! You’re most welcome to submit your work, but: PLEASE read the Submission Guidelines! They are not there for decoration! Reading them will give you the… Read more

  • We’re taking a little break…

    Greetings to all our dear readers, and compliments of 2026! We want to let you know that Petlwana is taking a brief hiatus, but will be back soon. In the… Read more

  • Paused.

    By Neelo Lentebanye I stayed up late,chasing whispers across blank pageswhile my soul begged for sleep.The journal stared back–its silence louder than my thoughts.I surrendered to the dark.Morning arrived with… Read more

  • Yangu

    By Noah Vale A calling in flame and drumbeat.They gathered in silence older than bone,Around a fire that didn’t burn,But remembered.Ash and ember spoke my name,In tongues I hadn’t learned… Read more

  • Gae

    By Pearl Mokgatlhane Nobody lives there now, but it’s there that my heart always takes me.The floors used to gleam with polish.The yard neatly swept by my late grandmother.The modest… Read more

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Petlwana features works of fiction and non-fiction as well as art and photography from Botswana.

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