Going, Going Home

By Philani Tyson Nombika, South Africa:

We all rode in cars before we knew the way back

With uncertain belief we grew taller than mountains

Soon we became the walkabout we feared on street corners

Riding in cars with strangers

Got hooked on bars and became regulars

We always feared growing to the best versions of ourselves and meeting expectations that seemed like a mask that we later couldn’t remove

Shoes that we filled but couldn’t walk in

We hug strangers for embrace

We fear our reflections,

How it never reminds us of who we wanted to be

So, this is for the face cradled by masks in fear of becoming

The knees shaking with fear of the road ahead

And for all that seems impossible

But conquered

It’s time to come home

It’s time we surrender to our fears.