He was born in Sophiatown,
Or Alexandra, I am not sure,
but certainly not in Soweto.
He skipped school
during playtime
to huck sweets
peanuts, shoelaces,
pilfered in town,
cadceed at the golfcourse.
He can write-
only his name;
He can read -
The World:
'Our one and only paper',
The Golden City Post -
murder, rape and robbery.
He has served time
at the 'Fort'.
Prison is no shame,
just as unavoidable
and unpleasant
as going to a dentist.
He's a clever'
not a 'moegie'
he never says baas
to nobloody white man.
He wears
the latest Levison's suits
'Made in America';
from Cuthbert's
a part of Florscheim shoes
'America's finest shoes'.
He pays cash
that's why
he's called Mister.
He goes for quality,
man, not quantity, never
the price is no obstacle.
His furniture is
from Ellis, Bradlow's, exclusive.
Nothing from the O.KBazaars
except groceries
and Christmas toys
for their kids.
'Very cheap!' says his wife.
Yes, his wife →
also born in the city, Orlando!
she's pretty,
dresses very well:
costumes from Vanité or Millews.
She's very sophisticated,
uses Artra, Hi-Lite
skin lightening cream,
hair straightened,
wears lipstick
a wig, nail polish:
she can dance the latest 'Monkey'.
He married her
after he had fathered
two kids
to prove her fertility.
There's the occasional
domestic quarrel:
he punches her
a 'blue eye'
to show her
he's the boss.
He takes another cherie
to the movies
at Lyric or Majestic,
They dine at the Kapitan
and sleep at the Planet.
Maybe they go
to a night session
in a posh shebeen:
jazz, booze
knives and guns.
The wife sees
a nyanga
to bring her man back home.
He runs a car -
'60 Impala Chev.
Automatic, sleek.
He knows
he must carry a pass.
He don't care for politics
He don't go to church
He knows Sobukwe
He knows Mandela
They're in Robben Island.
'So what? That's not my business!
the Fort: the main prison in Johannesburg
moegie: bumpkin (slang; pronounced moochy, ch as in loch)
nyanga: witch doctor
Sobukwe: Robert Sobukwe, leader of the Pan-African Congress, jailed after the banning of his movement
Mandela - Nelson Mandela, a leading figure in the African National Congress, jailed after the banning of his movement
Robben Island: the prison island where most long-term African political prisoners are held, off the coast near Cape Town
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