journey without farewell.
No more kisses, no more hugs, no more promises
Your departure took my joy and my pride.
Words of comfort are a burden,
An annoyance grating on the bleeding scab.
I need an honest acknowledgment of my pain,
An acceptance of my grief.
I need no words, no letters, no utterances of any sort.
Let my healing come from my Maker.
Let music put me together.
Let those that have lost as I have, comfort me.
Only they know my pain.
Only they know how I feel.
Only they have walked in my shoes.
Let our experiences intertwine,
As deep calls unto deep,
Grief calls unto grief
So unkind and uneven,
I will live with this pain.
I will carry it every day,
An unpacked luggage that comes with me
on every journey.
Albright Nombekezeli Sade Mabuza ka Dube (Ollie) is an aspiring poet born and raised in
Emakhandeni Township, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and currently based in Central Europe. She is of Sotho-Ndebele heritage and is also a literature enthusiast and a graduate of Lupane State
University. A dedicated teacher, she is passionate about writing stories and poetry inspired by
real-life experiences and relatable circumstances. “Father’s Daughter” is her debut poem, a dedication to her late father, Setha Dube who passed on in 2024. Identifying as a melancholic poet, she looks forward to publishing more of her writings and sharing her thoughts and vulnerabilities with every heart willing to listen. For collaborations you can contact Albright at albrightsademabuza@gmail.com