Gauteng Poem by Thabani Khumalo

I GLARED THE GRIN TO THE SUCCESS I SAW –
THE PEOPLE OPENED WIDE THEIR DOORS AND I SAW
THEIR LOUNGES AND THE CINDERS AND THE MONEY IN BETWEEN
BUT THE DARKNESS THERE, IT WAS, TO PULL ME DOWN BELOW.

OF ALL THAT TOOK PLACE, I REALLY GRIEVED IN GAUTENG.
I FOUGHT AN LEGION TWICE TO RETAIN DIGNITY – FULL,
I FOUGHT THEM ALL AGAIN TO GIVE ME SUCH A NAME
BUT I RETIRED TIRED AND HUNGRY IN THE VELD.

WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS JUBILANT IN THEIR DELIGHT
AND ON BLISSFUL PARTIES AND SIPPING ON THE BOOZE,
I WAS EVADING DUDES WITH ALL THEIR TREMENDOUS FIREARMS.
OF ALL THAT TOOK PLACE, I REALLY GRIEVED IN GAUTENG.