“friend (from Unrequited)” by Tshepo Molibeli

Due to the absence of a ‘chase’

One that comes with the act of confidence
It is safe to say that you know me.
Your trust allows a peak through your walls.

You don’t have to try to be funny, genius, or compassionate.
Peeping your walls has shown me
That this is who you are naturally.

I feel no need to attain a masculinity that isn’t there.
You feel no need to hide your life-shaping experiences from me.
Because of this, we know each other well.

So how can I protect myself
From the inevitable?

Who am I to assume

That for me and my feathers, you made room?
Who am I to believe
That the fire which spreads to all corners of your soul
Is me?

Somehow, the people in your life
Always know to ask me about your wellbeing.
It must be because I know you
Better than you know yourself,
And feel something for you
You aren’t even aware you can feel for yourself.

I invite myself to the party
After obsessing about my display.
I invite myself to details of your life
That you serve on a mammoth’s plate.
I eat, enjoy, and wait for the next—
Validating each word while we clean your plate.

Stomachs full, but a lot more… empty. 

I hope you dream about me
And see yourself through my mind’s eye.

Tshepo Molibeli is a poet whose work explores the depths of human emotion and the beauty found in both struggle and hope. Through poetry, Molibeli captures fleeting and complex moments, truths, and reflections that connect readers to themselves and to each other.

This selection of poems comes from Molibeli’s upcoming collection, Maroon, which navigates the intricate journey of learning to love oneself.