WRITINGS ON THE PALM TREE By Tiisetso Makhele

A review by Peter Moroe

Writings on the palm tree is the long awaited debut collection of poems by Tiisetso Makhele, a Free State writer from the grassroots who has been in love with poetry since he was very young.

Indeed the blurb of the book tells us: “In the Free State quite a number of poets at grassroots level have excelled and done great things for poetry. Those in the vanguard – most of them have published books of poetry – include Lebohang Thaisi, Job Mzamo, Teboho Mohanoe, Pule Lechesa, O Bolaji, Leslie Tlhabanelo, Tanki Phafoli. Revered poets now deceased include Gilbert Modise and Pule Lebuso.

Tiisetso Makhele, the author of this work (Writings on the palm tree) occupies an intriguing position in Free State poetry. As a youngster, in his mid-teens, he was already producing prolific verses, at the time he carted off prestigious awards like a CNA prize for poetry. Yet Tiisetso seemingly went off the boil for years – but now, he’s back!”

Writings on the palm tree contains the following poems: writings on the fig tree, still echoes, piano stands lifeless, hidden in the word, emptiness, Disease of love, contours of knowledge, wrecked peace, child of battle, provocation, Hungered crocodiles, eyes of a child, Emeralds in the crazy mind, and Air of poverty.

Despite his youth, Mr T Makhele is a rather long standing poet, hence his dexterity with words, and almost effortless imagery. Examples abound, even from the first poem. “Thorns of the strong wind whiz through my eyes”; “letters on trees…shone brilliantly through the darkness”

Through the poems we get glimpses into the poet’s background/childhood:

Days of my quiet childhood
When writing poetry was my only escape
From the reality of limitless struggles
Poverty in the home

And from the same poem (“Still echoes”) we can enjoy another fine piece of imagery “morning winds play guitar with the trees”; and from the poem, “Piano stands lifeless”:

Skeletons of violets warp
Duet with skies grip at pause
Roses not at peace
Sprinkles of lavish silence
Strangles their rain of life”

“Hidden in the word” is an important poem that, through personification, shows how strong and resilient the written word can be. “She’s brought into life/by paper pen and machine/she can knock onto the clouds/To breed rains of blood/ she can send white doves/ to skydive peace in warring air!”

From “Hungered crocodiles” we have the alliterative line “cluster in clandestine conspiracies”. Many poetry lovers believe that a good poet is one of whom one must read and re-read their works to uncover hidden layers of meaning, or just to understand the verses in part. In this wise Tiisetso Makhele is quite a satisfying poet.