10 December 2013

FORDSBURG: from a corner

FORDSBURG: 
     from a corner 
© Farouk Asvat  

We, the Guys at Jupiters,
On the corner of Mint and Bree,
Dream about dating saucy film stars
Driving posh cars
And playing soccer like magic;
 - But the Groucho Marx son of a businessman
   Fully dressed in paintbrush moustache and rimmed glasses
   "Believe you me"
   Comes to expound on the virtues of Islamic socialism -
While we go on chowing
The famous fish an' chips
- hot and halaal, with masala,
  from the famous Solly's Corner -
Unable to limit ourselves to a Gandhi diet
- You should know that

Here we know the Sheriff and his Junior sidekick
Who know all the cops by name,
So some try smoking a joint behind the classrooms
Even though they wouldn't be found dead
With a cigarette in their cupped hands
By their orthodox fathers coming from the shops

Chiqo, Gaff, Faqir and Bra Frooks are the regulars
Playing "There’s one of two possibilities” -
Expounding on the fate of a piece of paper
Sending it on a fantastic journey
From scribbled schoolbook to discarded cigarette butt
From classy serviette to embossed toilet paper in heaven
After the movies at the Lyric Bioscope on Friday Night
There's always toasted steak-and-cheese from Kentucky
Before we go dancing the night away at the Matador

On Saturday Night we wear Arnold Palmer cardigans,
Arrow shirts, and spit-shining Jarmans
- For we wouldn't be seen dead in a Gandhi suit -
To go slow-dancing at the Chezgay
With Fataar and The Flames
Perennially singing "For Your Precious Love"
Before we take the girls from Bosmont home
After the inevitable smooching at the Zoo Lake

On Sunday Mornings
We’re all dressed up in Levis jeans, BVDs and Tigers,
For the match at the famous Fietas Grounds
With drunken Scoba and her motley crew
Enthusiastically cheering along with the excited crowd
     Up the Callies!
     Up the Dynamos!
For in soccer we never play a Bhamjee shot
Always making the perfect pass


© farouk asvat

composed: 1990 [Johannesburg, South Africa under apartheid]

[] Acknowledgements:

Fordsburg: from a corner was previously published in:

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p60, 2006);
     www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (10.12.2013);
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014);
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p58, 2014).
______________________________________________________________
[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)
The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)
I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)
The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)
A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)
The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)
Bra Frooks … (poetry)*
The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*
In The House Of Love (novel)*
Weapons Of Words (comparative literature & literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle
______________________________________________________________
© farouk asvat.  All rights reserved.

Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or transmitted in any form or any means whatsoever, mechanical or electronic, including recording, printing, photocopying, or via any computerised means or media, including the internet.  This publication shall also not be stored in a retrieval system.  And the writing shall not be sold, lent, hired, resold or circulated in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published,
without the prior permission of the author in writing.
Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.
Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,
is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:





books by farouk asvat: www.faroukasvat-books.blogspot.com

[] also link up on:






amazon kindle author @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

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is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $15 & kindle @ only $5
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