M. Labuschagne

Fairy Tale Dream in the Sunlight

by Mingyue Perhaps an angel cast a spell, awakening a conversation between you and me. That day by the lake fountain, sunlight happened to cradle a rainbow. A breeze blew by, misty and dreamy, so, I paused, enchanted, stepping gently into its tale: riverbanks, neon...

On the nights of Zanzibar

by Mingrui One night, he lit a cigarette called Möbius. The flickering flame, amidst swirling smoke, seemed like shadows cast from his soul onto the earth. The outline of Zanzibar faintly emerged, a fleeting glimpse, then vanished— the fiery red, a once dazzling...

Afternoon Nap

by Mingyue Waking from her nap at two, she rubs the sleep from her eyes; and in the palm of her hand, finds a handful of stars. Eyeshadow smudged, a faint shimmer, glimmering like distant constellations, her dozy eyes still bright, she dreams of gold in the midday...

The veil

by Mingrui In the twilight between dream and wakefulness, He glimpses a corner of his soul: The embrace of Magdalene, a captivating call: “Ah, our eternal utopia.” Later, he stands alone, Accusing every happy person: “Eternity appeared under love’s veil, And I mistook...

Poetry

by Jana Lazarus Good morning Beloved The Beloved didn’t speak yet so that something terrible doesn’t happen in the night When she does, she says thank you my Angel But first of all how was that rain, the shower under the flag of goodwill Perhaps peace is not the...

Cambodia

by Frank Meintjies In Hao Lao, light shines through the death Through the eyes of shackles Stories tie-dyed in the colour of flags, Stories moored by flagpoles. Flagpoles like stakes. Prison built by the French. run by administrators imbibing coffee – superior coffee...

Morning

by Mingyue When I wake up in the morning,  I am a freshly baked loaf of bread. At 7 am, casting hopeful looks at every hungry worker, I say, “Take me, take me!” But after 10, I become lazy like dough fermenting in a bowl, pondering whether I’ll become a hot dog...

In the mirror

by Mingrui At the edge of the city in summer, In a corner of the World Trade Center. Facing the tall black wall, Snowflakes flutter in the air, Yet cannot make her in the mirror change her mind, And she murmurs: “The impulse to change my fate Has turned into...