The Things I Buried - By Tlhonolofatso Macholo

Written By: Tlhonolofatso macholo

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Tlhonolofatso Macholo presents a poignant piece titled "The Things I Buried" in the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This reflective work delves into the theme of self-discovery and the emotional landscapes we traverse within ourselves. Macholo's introspective journey is not just a search for identity but an exploration of the echoes of the past and the shadows of forgotten dreams.

About the Work

"The Things I Buried" is a solemn exploration of inner landscapes, filled with rich imagery and profound reflections. Macholo crafts a narrative that speaks to the silences within, where forgotten dreams and unfulfilled potential lie buried. The poem's mood is contemplative, evoking a sense of introspective melancholy while ultimately offering a glimmer of resilience and hope.

The Things I Buried

Original Submission by Tlhonolofatso macholo

The Things I Buried🪦

I went looking for myself today.

Not in mirrors, because mirrors only know how to repeat what they see, and not in photographs, because photographs are just ghosts pretending to be memories.

So I searched the places inside me where silence had built its kingdom, where old versions of my name still echoed through empty hallways of forgotten dreams.

I found a graveyard there.

Rows and rows of headstones, each carrying something I once loved.

Here lies innocence, the child who believed every goodbye came with a return.

Here lies trust, buried on a day it did not deserve to die.

Here lies wonder, the fragile thing that used to

live in my chest before disappointment taught it how to fear.

And farther down the path, hidden beneath years of pretending, lay the person I was supposed to become.

No flowers rested there.

Only unfinished conversations, broken promises, and the weight of all the nights I spent teaching myself how not to feel.

I stood among those graves for a long time, listening.

The dead do not speak, yet somehow they told me everything.

They told me that people can survive while entire universes collapse inside them.

That a heart can continue beating long after hope has packed its bags and left.

That loneliness is not the absence of company, but the moment you realize you no longer recognize your own reflection.

And suddenly I remembered her-

the child I used to be.

The one who carried tomorrow like a lantern in her hands.

The one who believed the world was something beautiful waiting to happen.

I wonder what she would think of me now.

Would she search my eyes for the stars she left behind?

Would she search my voice for the songs she never got to sing?

Would she search my soul for the endless sky she once called home?

I think she would.

And I think she would leave disappointed, not because I became someone different, but because somewhere along the journey I forgot that surviving was never meant to be the same thing as living.

So I kneel beside those graves and offer them

my apology.

Not for breaking.

Not for hurting.

Not even for getting lost.

But for believing that pain was the only story worth telling, while all along, beneath the ruins, beneath the sorrow, beneath every version of myself I buried,

there was still a heartbeat,

small and stubborn,

waiting for me to remember that even the deepest graves cannot bury the person who is still trying to come home.

By:Solivagant T.M🌺

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event celebrating literary creativity worldwide. It invites participants to share their unique voices and stories, fostering a global community of writers and poets. This competition is a platform for both emerging and established talents to showcase their work to an international audience.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Tlhonolofatso Macholo for sharing "The Things I Buried" in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This introspective piece resonates with the universal quest for identity and understanding. We are grateful for your contribution and look forward to witnessing more of your literary journey.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.