Red Takies, Strong Roots

Ke mang yo sa utlwe. Listen. This one is for every red

dust road. Ah. I was born in Mamelodi East. When the street

lights still flickered. '99, baby daddy disappeared quicker than a R2 beer.

Mama sold smileys by the robots. Head wrapped in a red dope. Those red takies

on her feet walk. Twenty keg for my school book. Gangsters called her

sis doodoo. She called them my lost sons. Still gave 'em pop when they

were hungry. Prayed for them when they run. At night she counted coins on

the table like a sangoma reads bones. My baby God hears even township