IF YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING...

Frank Malaba

---

In your haste to ground yourself

and seek meaning,

do not forget to plant and root your feet in kindness.

Love the parts of yourself that bask in

the indulgent addiction to self-deprecation;

they sorely need it.

Jump often, too.

Somewhere between the earth

and your suspended feet

are pockets of encouragement

urging you toward higher heights.

Sometimes, encouragement arrives

as inaudible yet loud voices

steering you toward your higher self.

Reward yourself with kindness

for the miracle of merely existing.

Each breath is a witness,

another chance at becoming.

You hold the key, the sword,

and the elixir.

You are the bringer of reimagined ways of being

to the child who kept trying.

Love others. Especially the deserving,

as urgently as possible.

It is a boomerang that returns

to heal parts of you

that mortal thoughts cannot reach.

It is not your job to know why.

It is your task to honour the magic

that goodness brings

to a weary, self-indulgent world.

Do not compromise on your time.

It is the most invaluable, immeasurable,

intangible gift you'll ever give.

Only you can offer the discount

on how it may be used.

And remember:

we are all walking a thin membrane

between this world and the one unseen.

Live prepared,

conscious of the stumble

into the next unknown.

So:

Breathe.

Walk.

Run.

Stop.

Rest.

Cry.

Laugh.

Think.

Touch.

Feel.

Let desire move through you,

and let pleasure crest into sacred release.

Let orgasm be both prayer and arrival,

a remembering of your aliveness.

Repeat.

Begin again.

Live.

---

Frank Malaba is a Zimbabwean writer, poet, photographer, and LGBTQIA+ activist. He is known for his works on queer identity, African masculinity, and mental health. Malaba's writing often addresses the experiences of being a gay man in Africa and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the region. He has been published in several literary journals and anthologies and has performed his poetry at various events and festivals. Additionally, Malaba is an advocate for mental health awareness and often speaks about his own struggles with depression and anxiety. He currently has two touring productions: Stories of My Bones and The Chaos of Belonging. In 2014, Frank was recognized by Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans as an Achiever in the category of Arts & Culture. View all posts by Frank Malaba: https://frankmalaba.wordpress.com/ Social media: https://linktr.ee/frankmalaba Frank Malaba Prosetry