Neanderthal vs homo sapiens skull. They had larger brains than us. And were possibly smarter.

Here are some things they could do:

* Neanderthals created sophisticated stone tools, including hand axes, scrapers, and spear points. They used wooden spears to hunt large animals like mammoths and bison. They even made glue from birch bark to attach stone tools to wooden shafts.

* Neanderthals were skilled hunters who could take down large game. They worked together in groups to ambush and kill prey.
They had the strength and precision to butcher animals for meat, hides, and bones.

* Neanderthals could make and maintain fire, using it for warmth, cooking, and protection from predators. Fire also helped them process food, making it easier to digest.

* While some lived in caves, Neanderthals also built shelters from wood and animal hides. They adapted to harsh Ice Age climates by making protective dwellings.

* They used animal hides to make warm clothing, possibly by sewing with bone needles. This helped them survive in cold environments.

* While we don’t know exactly what their language sounded like, Neanderthals had the physical ability to speak. Their brains had regions associated with speech and language, similar to modern humans.

* Neanderthals buried their dead with care, sometimes including grave goods like tools or flowers. This suggests they had rituals and possibly believed in an afterlife.

* Neanderthals created jewelry from bones, shells, and animal teeth. They painted in caves, using red ochre and black pigments.
This suggests they had symbolic thinking and some form of culture.

* Fossil evidence shows Neanderthals cared for group members who had serious injuries or disabilities. Some survived for years despite severe wounds, suggesting social support.

* Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred when they met in Europe and Asia. Today, most non-African humans have about 1–2% Neanderthal DNA.

* Bonus: They Were Stronger Than Us. Neanderthals had stockier builds, thicker bones, and stronger muscles. Their grip strength and endurance were far greater than ours.

In short, Neanderthals weren’t just “cavemen”—they were intelligent, adaptable, and resourceful humans.

Did you know Migingo Island is a small rocky island of just 2,000 m2 located in Lake Victoria in East Africa. It's known to be one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with around 500 people living in a limited space.
The island is disputed by Kenya and Uganda because of its strategic location and wealth of fishing resources, especially the Nile perch.
Despite its reduced size and precarious living conditions, Migingo is an important economic hub for fishing in the region.
A funny fact about Migingo Island is that, despite its tiny size and the territorial dispute between Kenya and Uganda, the island has bars, beauty salons, hotels and even a police station! All this in a space smaller than a football field.
Credit : Mugaman

Leleti Khumalo and Goldberg

Kinshasa

In English, we say: “I miss you.”
But in poetry, we say:
“I trace the shape of your absence in the spaces where your laughter used to linger,
and let the echoes of you fill the hollow hours.”

In English, we say: “I don’t know how to let go.”
But in poetry, we say:
“I carry you in my chest like a stone—
heavy, unyielding, and carved with the sharp edges of what once was.”

In English, we say: “I feel lost.”
But in poetry, we say:
“The compass of my heart spins wildly now,
its needle drawn to places it can no longer call home.”

In English, we say: “I wish it were different.”
But in poetry, we say:
“I water the garden of could-have-beens with tears,
waiting for flowers that refuse to bloom.”

In English, we say: “I hope you’re happy.”
But in poetry, we say:
“May the sun that warms your days and
be as kind to as the first kiss of dew on the dawning light upon the leafs of the laurel that we once made love under”

In English, we say: “You hurt me.”
But in poetry, we say:
“You planted thorns in my chest with hands I once trusted,
and now every breath feels like an apology I shouldn’t owe.”

In English, we say: “I wanted to stay.”
But in poetry, we say:
“I lingered at the edge of your world,
a star burning quietly, unnoticed in your vast, indifferent sky.”

In English, we say: “I’m trying to move on.”
But in poetry, we say:
“I untangle your name from my veins each morning,
only to find it woven into my dreams again at night.”

In English, we say: “I’ll be okay.”
But in poetry, we say:
“I gather the shattered pieces of myself like broken glass,
knowing someday, even scars can catch the light.”

With poetry I write paths through gardens of grace with words in ways my body dare not go as a whole.

Larson Langston
@highlight

Inspired by an instagram series “in poetry we say “