ABOUT THE COLLECTION

BLOOD SKIN BONES is a poetry collection that covers diverse sub themes, from nostalgia to world politics to the admiration of the natural world to deep self-introspection. But the dominant packaging theme of this collection is mortality. Mortality of the body, the mind and the soul. 

It interrogates the perennial wrestling between a human entity and mortality. It dissects the conversation between the two entities. It embraces the reality that each day our bodies are accumulating limits and shortcomings. This work does not only look at mortality as error or tragedy. It acknowledges and embraces the fact that mortality is a necessary engineering of nature that cannot be evaded.

This connection does not only limit itself within the realm of abstract and philosophical interrogation. It does not only lock its lens onto the inner world of the author. It also flips its lens outward towards societal ills and global politics. This is where it pokes at the tragedies of Gaza/Palestine. The toothlessness and deterioration of the United Nations as it fails to intervene and apply its resolve to deal with the warmongering leaders of certain countries.

This body of work also expresses the challenges and concerns of the author himself as he is going through a difficult time with health challenges.

All these subjects are transmitted using an accessible language, sharp imagery and precise gravitas.

ABOUT THE POET

Phelelani Makhanya is a writer/poet born is South Africa, in Kwa-Maphumulo, KZN province. His work has been published in major South African literary journals like New Contrast, Botsotso, Litnet, New Coin and others. His poetry has also appeared in The Kalahari Review and Praxis Magazine Online as well as in the Avbob Poetry Project. He has two published poetry collections: This Time I shall not Cry and My Father’s Blazer. His literary accolades include the National Poetry Prize, Sol Plaatjie European Union Poetry Prize, DJ Opperman Award and the New Coin Poetry Prize.