Prey Poem by Angela Bontle Ditumiso

You're in some kind of prayer
Except you're praying to no God
But a human
Idol, you love him

Palms kissing
Sweat dripping
You've lost so many drops
Your hands turned into a sculpture

On your knees
You beg
For his mercy and then for love
You beg him
To leave you alone and then for him to stay
You've been on your knees for so long
The floor has carved itself
into cups trying to hold your knees more gentle
(The only thing trying to hold you gentle)

Your voice
You've projected it until it seemed like white noise
Still, he won't hear your cries
Loving, oh loving can be a trauma on its own
Especially when you're blind
And you love where you're not wanted
Then you become a beggar
And on this street no one wants to help
Everyone gives you spit for change

Listen to your conscious
As it keep asking
When will you love yourself
Don't you know you deserve better
When will you realize
He only sees your blood as paint
And he loves refurbishing his house
When will you realize
You're too gentle a breeze to deserve a bruise
You're worthy