Nkazimulo's poem is about a first love that is half-forgotten and still deeply felt. In the opening section the speaker can't name the feeling, and he can't recall the details of that day, only fragments: a kiss, a sparkle in her eyes, a smile he senses but can't see. His memories arrive in waves, sometimes black and white, sometimes dark enough to freeze him, sometimes colourful but missing her face.
The second half becomes clearer and more direct. He describes her as beautiful, confident, humble and warm toward everyone, and then admits she made him feel "not enough." He gave her two years and she didn't love him back. Yet the poem ends on a mix of pain and pride: the rejection taught him self-worth and self-love, and the "burns and bruises" shaped the man he is now. The mood moves from hazy, wistful longing to bittersweet acceptance, with a touch of wry confidence at the close.