The JRB presents previously unpublished poetry by Seitlhamo Thabo Motsapi.
~~~
~~~
araifal
we crossed the river this morning
the camels had no memories
of crocodiles’ fatal intrusions
& so sand & straggle defined our slink
into the morning’s hazy soft
we crossed the river this morning
no six-headed rhymes shone from my torn uniform
no greasy slynesses glided from the water
we crossed the mountain this morning
with trudgel on our feet
distances buried in the eye
the roars of lions reduced to whimpers
the sands are turning green now
from the murmur of rains & rebirths
the spirits of the land
breeze us inward over our knives
rainbows refuse to rust
we have arrived
& the spirits of the land
hymn us inwards over our fragmentations
we have arrived
our wounds sigh so
Previously unpublished, © Seitlhamo Thabo Motsapi, 2025
- Seitlhamo Thabo Motsapi is married to Monosi and has four children. He Lives in Bela Bela. He has written poetry since the early nineteen-eighties, culminating in earthstepper / the ocean is very shallow (Deep South, 1995/2003).
