I’m In No Rush
The untanglement of love — poems exploring the intricate complexities of love in all its forms — from Thomas Mashala
I’m In No Rush
I’m in no rush to find love
because those who have come before me
have almost lost themselves looking for it.
Like a child, it plays freely,
unburdened by the need to be found.
Like a wildflower, unpredictable and beautiful,
it can be swept away by the strongest of winds,
yet still bloom elsewhere.
As warm as sunlight,
love can nurture the gentlest of souls,
but as cold as ice,
it can break even the strongest of hearts.
I’m in no rush to find peace
because those have ignored their pain
have almost drowned in the sea of their own silence.
Like an ocean, deep and overwhelming,
pain lurks in the deepest wounds of the soul.
Like a crack in the surface,
unhealed wounds often leave the thickest scars.
I’m in no rush to lose myself,
but I do hope to find love and peace
in the face adversity.
This Elusive Thing
The more you want it,
the more it eludes you.
The less you nurture it,
the quicker it slips from your grasp.
Like a shell, it’s fragile and vulnerable.
Like a leaf in the wind,
It’s gullible and susceptible.
In the midst of darkness,
it shines bright,
lighting a path for its possessor.
In its radiance,
It is like an inner song of a bird,
Its dimness is like a prickling of a thorn.
Upon its arrival,
One is overwhelmed by a sudden rush of feelings,
But on its departure,
One grapples with its absence.
Whoever it touches,
it leave its permanent mark on their heart.
The Kiss
Mncwaah1 a loud kiss
My heart skips, misses a beat
I’m forever hers
Healing of Hearts
The divinity of your soul is like a stone left unturned.
The depth of your heart is like a path not taken.
Your love is like a treasure that’s forsaken,
it waits patiently, wanting to be yearned.
In your radiance, your love was shunned,
it lay abandoned and left broken.
You’d forever wish you’d never partaken.
And now you heart is in shambles, where love is concerned.
Through healing, your spark was awakened,
a process where your worth was restored.
Love is not a token,
and broken heart shouldn’t be ignored.
Your sanity was shaken,
and compassion is always implored.
Thomas Mashala is a South African poet and writer whose work explores the complexities of human nature, heritage, love, and identity in modern African life. His work has been featured in esteemed literary magazines such as the Kalahari Review and Writers Space Africa. “The Crown,” his debut short story, was selected as Editor’s choice in the December 2025 issue of Writers Space Africa literary magazine. Thomas’s writing draws inspiration from acclaimed authors like Niq Mhlongo, Fred Khumalo, Angela Makholwa, Koleka Putuma, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Akwaeke Emezi, who redefine African stereotypes and push the boundaries of African literature.
Mncwaah — A south African onomatopoeia for a loud, wet, smacking kiss.