05 Nov 2026

At a time when love is often portrayed through heartbreak, disappointment and broken promises, young Motswana poet Neelo Siile, is using poetry to remind readers that genuine love, loyalty and lifelong companionship are still worth believing in.

Through her debut anthology, My Albatross, Siile offers a refreshing interpretation of the albatross, a bird traditionally associated in literature with curses, burdens and misfortune.

Rather than embracing its conventional symbolism, she draws inspiration from its devotion to its mate, using it as a metaphor for intentional love, commitment and enduring companionship.

Popularly known as The Lyrical Poetess, Siile discovered that the bird’s devotion inspired her to challenge the familiar narrative surrounding the albatross, giving it a more positive meaning.

“I was more interested in the bird itself than the meaning literature had already assigned to it. When I learned about its devotion to its mate, I found that side of it much more fascinating,” she said.

She explains that the bird’s ability to travel vast oceans and spending extended periods in the open skies while maintaining companionship inspired her to explore a different dimension of love.

“I wanted to give the albatross a different narrative. Rather than making it a symbol of something we carry unwillingly, I wanted it to represent something we choose willingly,” she says.

In My Albatross, the poet takes readers on an emotional journey through verses exploring longing, tenderness, vulnerability and the desire for meaningful human connection. 

Through imagery drawn from the ocean, wind, sky and distance, she captures emotions that ordinary conversations sometimes fail to express.

For Siile, love is not necessarily about finding a perfect person destined to complete one’s life, but about two individuals who deliberately choose one another despite life’s challenges.

She believes that although modern relationships have made many people skeptical about soulmates, the possibility of lasting love should not be dismissed.

“A lifelong bond is about two people who continue choosing each other. Love is not always going to be butterflies and beautiful moments. Sometimes it is patience, difficult conversations, forgiveness and making an effort even when things are not particularly romantic,” she said.

The anthology also explores the balance between solitude and companionship, acknowledging that personal fulfilment should not depend entirely on finding a romantic partner.

Siile says, she wanted readers to appreciate both the desire to be loved and the beauty of being comfortable with oneself.

She further hopes the collection will restore hope among those who have experienced heartbreak, reminding them that one painful relationship should not define their understanding of love.

“I hope they feel that love is still worth believing in, even if they no longer believe in fairytale,” she said. Her passion for words, storytelling and expressing emotions gradually developed into a creative pursuit that allows her to explore different aspects of the human experience.

Unlike writers who confine themselves to particular themes, she writes both poetry and short novels, drawing inspiration from love, heartbreak, grief, faith, identity and social realities. 

Beyond publishing, Siile hopes to establish the Albatross Movement, an initiative intended to promote physical, mental and emotional well-being through creativity, peer support and education.

Ultimately, her message through My Albatross is that love should be embraced without fear, while preserving one’s individuality.

“I would want the albatross to remind people that there is beauty in devotion and choosing someone. Love should never require you to lose yourself because you can love someone and still have your own wings,” she said. ENDS