Tick Tock, I Stare

~ natasha devalia

Wire cars, hair a mess;

I rush my steps—

now breathless.

Tick tock, I stare;

dark rings deepen

my hollow glare,

Mr. mischief 

shades in haste,

lines into my face.

Times of Zambia,

plastic Shoprite

bags crushed,

tied string— blue 

and pink, plastic 

sacks of mealie meal, 

crumpled

globes, they

roll to fame

from Z compounds, 

eleven-a-side stadiums

to Swiss banks.

He paints my portrait—

Mr. mischief

is it you, the thief?

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Published by natasha devalia

Author Poetry and Art books: ‘Tears and Grape Seeds’ 2025, ‘one touch of the rope’, 2024 and ‘Unseen Veins’, 2023 Zambian of South Asian descent, living in Thailand. I write poetry, perform, and I’m currently an MFA (painting) student. The themes of my art whether expressed through movement, poetry, painting or as interdisciplinary forms include identity, belonging, mental health and family life.

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