In “Out” and “Rooftops”, Zimbabwean-born poet, Tyrone Takawira writes about rape, incest, and suicide with what we would love to refer to as lucid lines. The stories trapped in these poems are sensational and make a pleasurable read.

– Editorial Team

Out

The hum of her skirt.
Stories of lust sewn in.
He sings along.
Thoughts of skin on skin.
And echoes of her plea.
Melodious.
The subjugation of her will.
Melodious.
The screams of her inching to survive.
Yet moaning to the thrust.
Of him.
She denies the face of the man that robs her.
She denies.
Yet moans?
She denies.
The face of her father.
She gives in.
Because she feels.
That’s the only way.

Out.

Rooftops

Don’t.

Place your foot on the cemented edge.
Thinking of Tinashe*.
Your only son.
Your only heartbeat.
Tears are nothing but a metaphor.
Of your struggle to take care of him.
Without a job.
Begging door to door.
For anything more.
Than the emptiness in your cup.
Perhaps your father was right.
You are nothing but a village boy.
Who escaped tradition just to suffer.
At the hands of modernity.

Don’t.

Place your foot on the cemented edge.
Thinking of your childhood.
How baba* used to curse your name.
From dusk to dawn.
For bringing poverty into his household.
For taking mother’s life when you were born.
For your very existence.
How he lashed your back.
with rusted chains.
And made you sleep with the dogs.
As your prayer to the gods.
For forgiveness.

Don’t.

Place your foot on the cemented edge.
Thinking of life.

Don’t.

Batsirai*, don’t!

Jump.

Footnote:
Tinashe is a Shona (Zimbabwean language) name for a boy.
It means “We have God/With God”.
Baba is a Shona word for father.
Batsirai is a Shona name that means “Help”

About The Author

Tyrone Takawira is a rising junior at Ashesi University (Ghana) — where he is studying Mechanical Engineering. He was born Zimbabwean but describes himself as a global citizen. He is a recent 2020 Global Winner and Anglophone Winner in the Wole Soyinka International Essay Competition. He has also published a short poetry anthology titled “His words. His empire. His reign” — which is available on Amazon. Apart from writing, he enjoys exploring cultures different from his own.

Pin