Batsirai Chigama https://ipikai.org/author/batsiraichigama/ The Story of Zimbabwe in Poetry Wed, 28 May 2025 09:58:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://i0.wp.com/ipikai.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/cropped-ipikai-favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Batsirai Chigama https://ipikai.org/author/batsiraichigama/ 32 32 200483121 GRIEF https://ipikai.org/issue-7/grief-2/ Wed, 28 May 2025 09:58:10 +0000 https://ipikai.org/?p=2123 The thing that coilsaround your head and heartconstricting hope’s muscleto a sudden atrophy.

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]]> 2123 Echoes https://ipikai.org/issue-7/echoes/ Wed, 28 May 2025 09:58:09 +0000 https://ipikai.org/?p=2131 You had what I called the gifted laughA heftystraight-from-the-underbellysilence-the-room kind.

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]]> 2131 Windstorms https://ipikai.org/issue-7/windstorms/ Wed, 28 May 2025 09:58:09 +0000 https://ipikai.org/?p=2129 We thought the men we marriedwere weak, like our fatherssomething our mothers told usand made us believe,yet these men lovedall feet and arms in. We didn’t hug themWe didn’t kiss themWe didn’t want to holdtheir hands in publicWe wanted the comfort they gaveand offered nothing in returnBecoming the windstormscircling upon their fragile egos They died… Read More »Windstorms

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]]> 2129 If Only https://ipikai.org/issue-7/if-only/ Wed, 28 May 2025 09:58:09 +0000 https://ipikai.org/?p=2125 Losing you has taught meto change the way I lovemy hugs are lingeringand tighter these daysnot rushed.They are slow-and-hardhow-are-you-really kind of hugs,I-am-glad-you-are-here-in-this-moment-with-me-don’t-be-a-stranger kind of hugs,I gaze into people’s eyessearching for a clueof the demons haunting themof the dark they hidehoping to catch them mid-airbefore they land head down.I am learning to laughloud, to unblockthe wounds… Read More »If Only

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]]> 2125 The Dead Are Not Dying https://ipikai.org/issue-7/the-dead-are-not-dying/ Wed, 28 May 2025 09:58:09 +0000 https://ipikai.org/?p=2127 The dead are not dying.We were told to tone down the soundof our grief, to lessen the painof those who mattered, I think.The wailing is still trapped within our chestssometimes soaks our pillows at nightand the weariness of our souls cannotbe mascara-ed to the colour of joyPerhaps we refused to cry, dazed-numb our tears locked… Read More »The Dead Are Not Dying

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]]> 2127 Stones of a Disappointed Womb https://ipikai.org/issue-6/stones-of-a-disappointed-womb/ Wed, 17 Jul 2024 21:02:32 +0000 https://ipikai.org/?p=1871 You have heard the horrorof what will followscoured the literaturehoping to be pacifiedyou count the penniesgoing down the drainfor nothing;the debilitating painnever ending yet somethingsays nothing exceeds this loss. the weeks, if gatheredare a lifetimeof shape shiftingof being grounded for dayshelpless:missed parties, missed travel,missed work, missed school.the choice of what colourclothes to wear –the fear… Read More »Stones of a Disappointed Womb

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