Collaboration.
Brilliant. A word that never fails to define his work and talent. A true reverence to God shows through his character and his pieces of poetry which we are so favoured to be exposed to. A mind filled with admiration and wonder for the world, philosophy and art. A journey of self-expression and growth is reflected through his undying desire to change the world through the work and projects he's currently working on.
Francis Machipisa, a student and writer, highlights his complexity as he dwells both in the world of science and art. His determination to break the mold and redefine modern poetry while preserving the beauty of it, is deeply evident in his work and the respect he has for the art. It was an honour to be in collaboration with him. To learn and grow from another artist. To understand his world and the ways he chooses to put it into words. To be invited into a mind of unique perception, great ideas and even more admirable wisdom.
Through poetry, we were able to open the door which leads to the exploration of life and faith. As believers, we were challenged to face the realities of our greatest fears, confronted our sin and marveled at the gift of His grace. These pieces, each signifinifying an important part in a Christian's journey, form part of the bigger picture; the Good News.
The conversation.
1. Tell us more about who Francis Machipisa is?
Francis Machipisa is currently in that weird space between boyhood and becoming a man, full of ideals and vision for the future. He is relatively intelligent and curious about things. He doubts himself and his writing ability sometimes but is blessed with a community of friends and family who never fail to support him. Francis abhors clichés and hates being limited, especially with his art. You know him as a poet but you will soon see him put his mark on the world through countless other mediums. A jack of all trades rarely masters but is exceptional at applying core artistic principles to produce unique hybrid artworks.
2. How has your journey through poetry been like for you thus far?
My journey through poetry has been very smooth. I find it very easy to write. And inspiration is never far from me. I've also achieved an extensive and nuanced understanding of my medium: language, and this makes it all much easier.
3. What change do you hope to bring through your work?
Change? Well I hope to introduce a new path for the budding creative by encouraging versatility in terms of artistic mediums. I want to show that your creativity is not a device of your dominant medium, rather the other way around. I am not a creative because I am a good poet rather i am a poet because I am a creative.
4. Who inspires you both in your life and artistically?
Got to be Virgil Abloh artistically for his versatility. And David Hume, a mind I hope to measure mine to one day.
5. What is the most difficult part of your creative process?
I find the longer projects really challenging because I cannot rely on my fast, explosive and inspiration fueled creativity for a project that must still be completed even after the fire has cooled.
6. What does literary success look like to you?
Literary success is reach. Not just people recognising your work but also truly understanding it.
7. Which other artists do you hope to work with one day?
A few film makers such as Sam Levinson and mostly some local artists like NAM, Castro Beats and Beverly Twala. It's a crazy list but I believe language, both written and spoken, can translate into may art forms.
8. Do you think the world gives enough attention and appreciation to the art of poetry? If not, what would you like to see change?
No, I don't think the world sees and appreciates poetry enough. To add on to that, I don't think the attention we do get is actually good. I'm new to the art but I realise that, due to communication technology like social media, poetry is losing its essence. Diluted into meaningless and fleeting content. People have lost the ability to consume it for what it truly is.
9. Your work focuses deeply on life and faith, what has been your most beautiful experience with the art of poetry?
My most beautiful experience with poetry has to be when God speaks to me through it. When He reveals some truth about Himself through my poetry it is like a personal acknowledgement from Him; an intimate encounter.
10. Tell us more about your experience with the creative process behind this collaboration and what do you hope this collaboration achieves?
This collaboration was really fun! Tsholofelo and I have very different writing paces and different styles too. We also saw different ways of speaking on our chosen topic. So, it was amazing to see how we melded all those differences into a cohesive series of poems. Our faith is important to us both, and through this collaboration we hope to offer a glimpse into God's heart while acknowledging just how human people can really be.
The poems
Three pieces of poetry, all revealing a unique truth of betrayal, hope and redemption.
The Dark Revealed
My depraved darkness engulfs you as it dims His Light and you begin to feel foreign in His presence.
My faults are perfect to your brokenness.
My lies are the truths of your immorality.
Wickedness is a language you inherently understand as I slither my way into your soul.
My manipulation becomes your music.
The tune of your own transgressions.
Finally becoming familiar to His absence, doesn't His empty tomb remind you of His abandonment?
So find peace in the valley of your renouncement.
The table has been prepared for you and this time I am your only guest, filling the seat meant for your salvation.
I accept your abominable actions.
Cleanse you with the curse of my own condemnation.
If a Father can leave His only begotten son to die a shameful death,
the prodigal will not be left unpunished.
You are always destined to sin in the eyes of His Holiness.
Grace is given to the godly and mercy is a miracle presented only to those who repent.
So I find you in the garden and offer you knowledge.
I stay with you in the dry and desolate desert and give you comfort.
I meet you in the midst of your unrighteousness and present the corrupt fruit of my offering.
And through disobedience, death becomes your final home; the great consequence of your choice.
by Tsholofelo Mokgabudi
A Prodigal's Father
Is this the test of a father's love Lord?
Do You wish to test the depth of mine?
Truly this is not necessary, I need not suffer so,
for my love is true as a well shot arrow,
pure as the heart of an infant.
Is this the anguish You feel Father,
When we ignore Your warnings to our peril?
Is this the frustration You feel Father,
when our folly rules us so?
Is Yours the patience I require Father?
For my son is lost to me,
he saw joy and riches in the desert
and believed it to be true.
Is this the hope You know Father?
For it is all I have to hold.
Is this the love You hold for us?
That breaks Your heart at our suffering
billions of times over for every man that was made,
yet holding true to all that was said.
I have skimmed the surface of Your pain Father,
and it has nearly broken me.
Is this Your love that guided my hand when I blessed his departure
and stayed my tongue when they asked me why?
Is this Your love which demands that our children are free to make choices?
For it is when they choose the right path that it is made full in truth.
By Your grace I am what I am Father
and my son is what he is.
His journey is the fruit of Your hand.
Thus, You shall be my refuge,
Your will my greatest comfort.
by Francis Machipisa
The Lost, the Found and the Beloved
My choice; the Judas to my great Messiah
The rejection of his ultimate Truth,
choosing to believe in the inadequacy of my nature.
If God can create me, He can surely save me from the destruction of my own disobedience.
For every sinner is destined to meet with the Great Saviour.
We run back to Him but are still yet blind.
We returns but are still lost.
Each weary step is stiffened by foolish pride and burdened by shame.
We are driven by our desperation.
Driven by our hunger which grew as we dined with scum.
Our jealousy at the prosperity of others.
We are lost but look around and see how the wise are calm.
For they know that in the Father's arms we will be found.
In that embrace truth will befall us.
As we surrender ourselves to the great promise of his love.
Sanctified from the shame of our devastating possibility.
And rejoicing as we are welcomed back into our eternal home.
Looking at the lies we believed,
weighing them against the truth we now know.
We laugh at our foolishness
as we delight in our salvation.
by Tsholofelo Mokgabudi and Francis Machipisa
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