On Reading a South African Newspaper

Front page, back page,
the fading smell of foreign paper;
Holding an alien culture in my hand -
So strange to me, but taken for granted there,
just as I don't hold the local newspaper delicately,
or bestow upon it careful folding or fond storage;

people places restaurants

I soak in all the words,
glimpses into everyday life
How like my world it is!

Look, there's a concert on -

Dark skinned men, familiar, faces, colour
joyfully perform on stage, frozen, in black and white print

venue timings tickets

The illusion of kinship is shattered
when I see that

No guns, weapons or arms of any kind are permitted in the auditorium.

Jan 5 2008