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Urban Dance
In South Africa, we landmark potholes
on the roads we regularly ride zigzagging
to avoid these moon craters, big and small
The uninitiated may think us under the influence
or mirroring the reckless abandon of taxis
that swerve daringly between traffic
trying to squeeze in an extra trip, or six!
Our drivers will surely fair well
on obstacle courses should it
become an international sport!
This morning, I had to swerve unexpectedly
to avoid fresh road kill – a humungous rat
staining the tar red on the narrow road
between the army camp and graveyard
just passed the intersection of Miller
Sometimes the surprise is an unattended child
too close to the road during the daily drop-off grind
Sometimes it’s bricks or stones thrown from a bridge
for perverted pleasure or criminal intent!
Sometimes, it’s a tiny Myna darting dangerously
close to tyres. Why? Why do they do that?
I’ve since noticed that there always seems to be
another on the verge, witnessing this so-called bravery
and concluded that it’s some kind
of adapted urban courting ritual!
I delight at how adaptive we all are
doing our daily Urban Dance!
Copyright: Adiela Akoo
This poem was first published in Botsotso on November 3, 2023
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