I’ve never met anyone who didn’t
at least once
collaborate with her demons
to master cooking her own wounds
momentarily
revel in hosting a banquet
with peckish wolves
whose fangs cleave at her
medium-rare
in due course,
she clears her house of malimo
to lick herself to scars
decisively
alone
she learns the taste of her new skin’s language
Katleho Kano Shoro is a South African artist-scholar currently pursuing a PhD in anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of the poetry collection, Serurubele, and more of her poetry has been published in journals and anthologies both nationally and internationally (latest poem contributed to: Chants, Dreams and other Grammars of Love: a Gedenkschrift for Harry Garuba). Her writing practice includes short stories and essays (latest essay: Black Butterflies: Black Women’s Philosophies of Freedom). Shoro also undertakes editorial work (latest editorial project: The Constant Reader: Poetry Reviews by Poets in South Africa).