Page 45 - LockDown Poetry
P. 45
-------- lockdown poetry --------
Sometimes
Sipho M
sometimes,
we, participate
in our own debasing
we, contribute
in our own degrading
we, spearhead
our own termination
white people: I miss you
black people: ke o kwatetse
our jokes are self-mutilating tools
hanging ourselves as objects of ridicule
to nations that have never loved us
we provide dossiers of evidence
in the case they made against us
on a charge of stupidity of proportions
we, mock in disdain
those whose English is amiss
we, demand they explain
those who can’t define the hard words we speak
yet our own languages gather dust
in the museums of our forgotten shelves
we meet for drinks with anyone who thinks
our kid who only speaks English is a feat
we, wear with pride the great international brands
44