WHAT THE POLICEMAN SAID ...

WHAT THE POLICEMAN SAID TO HIS WIFE
© Farouk Asvat

I was only following orders

My darling
I jailed him
For his own safety
I tortured him
In the interest of state security
I only killed him
In good faith

© farouk asvat

composed: 05.10.1989 [Johannesburg, South Africa under apartheid].

[] Acknowledgements:

What The Policeman Said To His Wife was previously published in:

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p94, 2006);

     www.faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com (23.10.2012);
     www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (28.04.2015);
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014);
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p92, 2014).

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Sadness In The House Of Love: the first NOVEL by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $17.50 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology A Celebration Of Flames by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology The Time Of Our Lives by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology Bra Frooks … by Farouk Asvat is now available
on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

© 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 @:

farouk asvat - poems: www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

weapons of words: www.faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com

piquante ! : www.faroukasvat-piquant.blogspot.com

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

[] also link up on:

google+ : https://plus.google.com/116303232543019349765

linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/farouk-asvat/42/6b6/52a

twitter: www.twitter.com/faroukasvat

facebook: www.facebook.com/faroukasvat

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

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Sadness In The House Of Love: the first NOVEL by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $17.50 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books

www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

WAITING FOR MOHAMED ALI

WAITING FOR MOHAMED ALI
© Farouk Asvat

They did not gather for God

But for Mohamed Ali,
But it was the same thing,
It was like waiting for Godot

The excited crowd

Closed in on the mosque
Only to be technically knocked out
By his nonappearance

For Ali, like God,

Did not come
He was on a magic carpet ride
With the merchants of the realm

© farouk asvat

composed: 28.04.1993 [vrededorp, johannesburg, south africa under apartheid# ]

___________________________________________________________________________    

§ THE WIND STILL SINGS SAD SONGS by FAROUK ASVAT

"Currently reading a book of incredible poems by @faroukasvat

 called ''The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs''.

 The title poem brought me to tears."

● Léonicka, DynamicAfrica

● AMAZON 5-star review *****

"If you like poetry you’ll love the way this poet writes.

 His voice and thoughts speak volumes in a way that can be understood by all - an excellent read'' - 

● Leslie Howell

● GOODREADS 5-star review *****

@ https://www.goodreads.com/faroukasvat

re: ''She Loved Me'':

''So few words conveying so much. Beautiful bitter-sweetness.''

● Philip Low, G+

"The legend of poet extraordinaire Farouk Asvat: like vintage wine, proper poetry matures with time,

and like vintage art the voice and wisdom of a poet worth the name is timeless."

● Mphutlane wa Bofelo, kagablog

"a guided tour of the souls of the South Africans he writes about and cares about.

 Hauntingly universal"

● Thomas Rome, New York

"they are very powerful literary missiles: capable of the most beguiling love poetry,

 as can be seen in "Love Devours Me" ''.

● Asha Naidoo, Legal Resources Centre, at book launch

"You are amazing!!!!! … very impressive".

● Jill Townsend, Council of Grandmothers, Ojai, CA, USA

"The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs" is an important addition to any discerning reader's literary collection."

● Victor Metsoamere, Sowetan

___________________________________________________________________________    

[§] 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)

● This Masquerade (short stories)

● Bra Frooks … (poetry)*

● The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*

● In The House Of Love (novel)*

● Weapons Of Words (literary criticism)

● all my paperback & kindle editions

@ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

__________________________________________________________________________    

[] acknowledgements:

Waiting For Mohamed Ali was previously published in:

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p66, 2006);

https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/2015/04/waiting-for-mohamed-ali.html (21.04.2015);

https://faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com/2012/10/waiting-for-mohamed-ali.html (09.10.2012);

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014);The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p64, 2014).

__________________________________________________________________________    

© 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 yuan (ren men bi) or US$1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat

is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $20 & kindle @ only $5

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics

#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism

#the #wind #still #sings #sad #songs #waiting #for #mohamed #ali #mohamedali 

● poems @ https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

● linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/farouk-asvat-52a6b642

● sa history @ https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mohamed-farouk-asvat

● wikipedia @ https://en.everybodywiki.com/Farouk_Asvat

● youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlracNOh9E/faroukasvat

● all my books @ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

THE DIRECTOR OF FUNERALS

THE DIRECTOR OF FUNERALS
© Farouk Asvat

The shrewdest

smoothest
conman
in town
is the director of funerals

     like an angel of death

     he is always there
     driving you to your death
     in his green hearse

dressed in holy white cloth

and a neatly trimmed beard
he sells you the loveliest fantasies
and the sweetest intrigues
scented with the fragrant essence
of rose petals
and death

© farouk asvat

composed: 1992 [newclare cemetery, johannesburg, south africa under #apartheid ___________________________________________________________________________     

§ THE WIND STILL SINGS SAD SONGS by FAROUK ASVAT

"Currently reading a book of incredible poems by @faroukasvat

 called ''The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs''.

 The title poem brought me to tears."

● Léonicka, DynamicAfrica

● AMAZON 5-star review *****

"If you like poetry you’ll love the way this poet writes.

 His voice and thoughts speak volumes in a way that can be understood by all

 - an excellent read'' - Leslie Howell

● GOODREADS 5-star review *****

@ https://www.goodreads.com/faroukasvat

re: ''She Loved Me'':

''So few words conveying so much. Beautiful bitter-sweetness.''

● Philip Low, G+

"The legend of poet extraordinaire Farouk Asvat: like vintage wine, proper poetry matures with time, and like vintage art the voice and wisdom of a poet worth the name is timeless."

● Mphutlane wa Bofelo, kagablog

"a guided tour of the souls of the South Africans he writes about and cares about.

 Hauntingly universal"

● Thomas Rome, New York

"they are very powerful literary missiles: capable of the most beguiling love poetry,

 as can be seen in "Love Devours Me" ''.

● Asha Naidoo, Legal Resources Centre, at book launch

"You are amazing!!!!! … very impressive".

● Jill Townsend, Council of Grandmothers, Ojai, CA, USA

"The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs" is an important addition to any discerning reader's literary collection."

● Victor Metsoamere, Sowetan

___________________________________________________________________________    

[§] 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)

● This Masquerade (short stories)

● Bra Frooks … (poetry)*

● The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*

● In The House Of Love (novel)*

● Weapons Of Words (literary criticism)

● all my paperback & kindle editions

@ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

__________________________________________________________________________    

[] acknowledgements:

The Director Of Funerals was previously published in:

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p65, 2006);

https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-director-of-funerals.html (14.04.2015);

https://faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-director-of-funerals.html (02.10.2012);

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014);

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p63, 2014) 

__________________________________________________________________________    

© 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 yuan (ren men bi) or US$1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat

is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $20 & kindle @ only $5

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics

#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism

#the #wind #still #sings #sad #songs #the #director #of #funerals 

● poems @ https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

● linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/farouk-asvat-52a6b642

● sa history @ https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mohamed-farouk-asvat

● wikipedia @ https://en.everybodywiki.com/Farouk_Asvat

● youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlracNOh9E/faroukasvat

● all my books @ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

MAJESTIC HAIRDRESSING SALOON

MAJESTIC HAIRDRESSING SALOON
© Farouk Asvat

The township comes to town

In their Saturday best
To a calendar full of foreign places
I have stopped dreaming of
Where it is still a wonder to behold
Amitabh Bhachan embracing Elizabeth Taylor
On the peeling walls of the barber shop
In defiance of the laws of the land

     "We Do Not Allow Credits Here"

We know all too well
Watching Overcoat Chacha reading the horses
Through a magnifying glass
While hen-pecked barber clip-clips away
In spite of the modern unisex salons across the road
As Enver Notorious
Who still bumps with the swagger of his youth
Comes in
And takes his usual seat rather obtrusively,
While the child looks with apprehension
At the dentist's chair upholstered in maroon:
Clerk, wife and two children,
All seated neatly in a row
Patiently waiting for their turn
Dreaming of the fading promises on the green wall
Before returning to their homely ghettoes

'I have been in all

 The racecourses of the country,'
Mandrax Kapoor boasts,
'I know about horses, I tell you;
 And I know about bets.
 You just ask me.'

     'Yes. But don't ask me for money.

       People don't give you money
       To pay your rent;
       In that I've passed my matric,'
     The Balding Barber asserts
     With forced dignity.

"Allahnah Goodana kassam.

  But Hot Curry got no chance,
  I tell you,"
Junior Shariff predicts with confidence,
"Biryani is the horse for today's race;
  Ask me.
  And if you don't believe me,
  Ask Kaka.
  But where is that squint bastard anyway?
  I haven't seen him for weeks."

'Kaka is in jaihl,'

Mandrax Kapoor informs him absently.

     "Yes, I've heard.

       Pulling time at the Fort;
       At Number Four,"
     Enver Notorious confirms.
"Is that true heh?"
Junior Shariff feigns surprise;
"Kaka in jail heh?
  But what was wrong with that bastard,
  Staying with us?
  But very independent,
  Stupidly independent,
  I tell you.
  And what he does?
  Gets involved in drugs.
  Is that now something for our people to do?
  I ask you,"
Junior Shariff continues

As the snip-snip of the barbers carries on

And the bright colours
Of another Saturday morning
Pass by in their hustle-bustle
To the cinemas

© farouk asvat

composed: 1985 [fordsburg, johannesburg, south africa under #apartheid ].

___________________________________________________________________________    

§ THE WIND STILL SINGS SAD SONGS by FAROUK ASVAT

"Currently reading a book of incredible poems by @faroukasvat

 called ''The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs''.

 The title poem brought me to tears."

● Léonicka, DynamicAfrica

● AMAZON 5-star review *****

"If you like poetry you’ll love the way this poet writes.

 His voice and thoughts speak volumes in a way that can be understood by all

 - an excellent read'' - Leslie Howell

● GOODREADS 5-star review *****

@ https://www.goodreads.com/faroukasvat

re: ''She Loved Me'':

''So few words conveying so much. Beautiful bitter-sweetness.''

● Philip Low, G+

"The legend of poet extraordinaire Farouk Asvat: like vintage wine, proper poetry matures with time, and like vintage art the voice and wisdom of a poet worth the name is timeless."

● Mphutlane wa Bofelo, kagablog

"a guided tour of the souls of the South Africans he writes about and cares about.

 Hauntingly universal"

● Thomas Rome, New York

"they are very powerful literary missiles: capable of the most beguiling love poetry,

 as can be seen in "Love Devours Me" ''.

● Asha Naidoo, Legal Resources Centre, at book launch

"You are amazing!!!!! … very impressive".

● Jill Townsend, Council of Grandmothers, Ojai, CA, USA

"The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs" is an important addition to any discerning reader's literary collection."

● Victor Metsoamere, Sowetan

___________________________________________________________________________    

[§] 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)

● This Masquerade (short stories)

● Bra Frooks … (poetry)*

● The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*

● In The House Of Love (novel)*

● Weapons Of Words (literary criticism)

● all my paperback & kindle editions

@ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

__________________________________________________________________________    

[] acknowledgements:

Majestic Hairdressing Saloon was previously published in:

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p62, 2006);

https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/2015/04/majestic-hairdressing-saloon.html (07.04.2015);

https://faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com/2012/09/majestic-hairdressing-saloon.html (25.09.2012);

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014);
The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p60, 2014).

__________________________________________________________________________    

© 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 yuan (ren men bi) or US$1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat

is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $20 & kindle @ only $5

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics

#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism

#the #wind #still #sings #sad #songs #majestic #hairdressing #saloon

● poems @ https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

● linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/farouk-asvat-52a6b642

● sa history @ https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mohamed-farouk-asvat

● wikipedia @ https://en.everybodywiki.com/Farouk_Asvat

● youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlracNOh9E/faroukasvat

● all my books @ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat