A Poem by Shepherd Mandhlazi

I perform with broken ribs
caught up in a sugar stampede
Bruised by baton sticks
stompedby booted feet

I satnd on shaky feet
having walked into town
A crowded bus for the return journey
Buttocks of someone's wife against my groin

I satnd dizzy
A packet of maputi for lunch
The water is dirty
I have diarrhoea

I stink
Have learnt to bath with a liter of water
The smell of smoke
Cooking with a thorny bush fire

I stand here and talk about it
I will be accused of being and imperialist stooge
I need a bulletproof vest
They will graduate from baton sticks to guns.

After I am gone I won't rest
They will set up roadblocks
Harass the mourners
And ask' where is the police clearance?'