I drew the curtain often,
Hoping a new day’s light would stream in and soften
The lump of bitterness that obscured my throat
Life and food, together had become unpalatable
I held the hope that the path would become bearable
That the light of day would glisten brighter than my tears
My tears had much more freedom than I,
They fell so freely, and I could seldom retain them
It seemed too soon for my soul to be worn
From a journey that began the day I was born
Then a wonder it was, that as the days went on,
The beauty of the clouds, I began to see
Towers of aerosol, moulded by wind
Less rigid than what my mind believed balance to be
On one day a carpet, carved faces on the next
The winds of life had toppled my fortress
It was not to be destroyed, but moulded
We define strength by the weakness we see
Waters are stronger when tempestuous than when still
And so, I draw the curtain and a brighter light dawns
For drowned is the anticipation that it is only found beyond
That curtain! There is a brightness coming from within
Metamorphosized balance that wears the sorrow thin
Vongai Chirove is currently a pharmacy student at Rhodes University. She is from Harare, Zimbabwe. At the age of sixteen, she took an interest in poetry, prose, and photography. She aspires to empower Zimbabweans with the reassurance that their talents are not means valueless. Her hobbies include reading, writing as well as listening to music. She is also interested in art, fashion, and philosophy. Some of her photography and a few written pieces can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/th3v0n/. Vongai is passionate about mental health. She also happens to enjoy watching anime.