Let me Count the Ways

Moira Richards

He's the maths teacher, young and goodlooking too.
She must visit him
every Wednesday afternoon
for extra lessons
in his flat.
If she wants to pass the seventh grade this year.

Her best friend just joined a gang
and she's dropped by to chat.
Invited her out
to meet the boys,
all sixteen of them, one after the other.
Initiation rites.

She loves her daddy.
But he loves her too,
every night
very quiet.
'Cos Mama's not to know.

They've warned her about strange men
but he's not strange.
Just her favourite cousin
and him and his friends give her sweeties.
Afterwards they give her lots more
so that she'll stop with all her tears.

Mama's dumped her man
and he's going to teach her a lesson.
If he can't have her
then he'll have her daughter
even though,
she's just nine months old.

First published in Agenda

LitNet: 05 April 2005

Did you enjoy this poem? Have your say! Send your comments to webvoet@litnet.co.za, and become a part of our interactive opinion page. Or submit your own poetry to Anton Kreuger for consideration.

Click here to receive our newsletter - your weekly cultural fix! Check out what's sizzling on our newsletter this week

back    /     to the top

© Kopiereg in die ontwerp en inhoud van hierdie webruimte behoort aan LitNet, uitgesluit die kopiereg in bydraes wat berus by die outeurs wat sodanige bydraes verskaf. LitNet streef na die plasing van oorspronklike materiaal en na die oop en onbeperkte uitruil van idees en menings. Die menings van bydraers tot hierdie werftuiste is dus hul eie en weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van die redaksie en bestuur van LitNet nie. LitNet kan ongelukkig ook nie waarborg dat hierdie diens ononderbroke of foutloos sal wees nie en gebruikers wat steun op inligting wat hier verskaf word, doen dit op hul eie risiko. Media24, M-Web, Ligitprops 3042 BK en die bestuur en redaksie van LitNet aanvaar derhalwe geen aanspreeklikheid vir enige regstreekse of onregstreekse verlies of skade wat uit sodanige bydraes of die verskaffing van hierdie diens spruit nie. LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.