Have You Seen Twenty Four Inches Poem by Sarah Mkhonza

She walks the streets of Mbabane
All legs with a skin smoother than
Butter and smiles the sunny smile
That makes you see two stary eyes that
Hide behind ringed glasses. This
Beauty has a figure that is the
Envy of Mbabane girls who in turn
Gave her the name of the inches
Around her waist.She walks down
Allister Miller a virgin spited
And her instep tells you that she
Has won the contest for if you
Live in this little town all fights
Take place on Allster Miller. Handbags
Swing on shoulders as determined
As the outstep of the maiden they
Call Twenty Four Inches. In this
Vanity world of the thin ones
You live and hear the drama from
The People's Theatre where the
Ticket is your eyes. The seat
Number is written on the pavement.
The snack is ready for you on
The same pavement. Everybody
Turns to watch her on the runway
For they have been waiting and
Now they whisper for here comes
The girl handbag in hand wearing
The latest on her body with a
Figure like a wasp.

She does not wear rouge
For rule of the streets
Is no enhancements for
It is African fair to
Come as you ate. Her
Hair is short. Confidence
Calls you to dare say a word.
You stand and watch for next
Week you have to pass the gossip
Test for all the news will be
About this movie that goes on
Reel by reel a life unfolding
In front of a nations audience
That walks and does not chase
Its prey, but sits a paparazzi
Of the streets that chases its
Prey with the eye.

*Mbabane is a town in Swaziland, southern Africa.