Two South Africas Poem by Sibulelo Manamatela

Bumpy dust roads,
Chilren,
White Corrugated lips,
Outstretched hands.
Neighbours as close as family
Rescue you with sugar.
Every young smile skips
Joyfully in the street
White and red ball in hand
Grandma artfully drapes
The fence
With dull-coloured pieces
of fabric.
That guy from nearby
Walks by every day
Accompanied by a familiar whistle
And that green bucket hat.

Any, Every guy
Passing manicured front lawns
With dark skin
Tagged as a criminal.
Neighbours are brief silhouettes
You may seldomly spot
Closest sound to children playing
Are vacant cries of dogs
Weeping, weeping, weeping.
Priviledge.
Parents who spend more time
Behind piercing white light
Polished mahogany boardroom tables.
Stench of coffee
Suffocates dreams of creativity
And liberty
Seduces you into
A harsh life of
Money Monopoly.