Bantustan

Nelson, the son of Joseph,
plays football with his friends.
Sometimes he pauses
and gazes down the dirt road.

Today the bus will come??
Today his father will come??
Outsile their hut,
his mother pauses at her washing.

Raw calloused hands on hips,
she gazes at her son.
She knows it will be many months
untill Joseph returns.

Nelson kicks the football,
the bus forgotten
for a while ...
TOM McGUINESS.