THE POEM By Vangi - University of South Africa

THE POEM
By Vangi

I expect more from you

Because my father fought
For you

He gave himself to you
instead of spending time with us

He lay on cement floors
behind bars
under beds
in wardrobes

behind dustbins
For you

He forced my mother up and down
From prisons to hospitals to prisons

baby on back
searching for him
because of you

For you
My mother nursed, sold, sewed
When he couldn't work for us

because he worked for you
So I expect more from you

Because my uncle disappeared
post-matric
For you

He left his leg in Lusaka
For you

Became a child with a gun
Alone in foreign bushes

For you
His parents worried

For you
My mother covered up
was raided, worked thrice as hard

For you
So I expect more from you

Because uMakazi slept on London benches For you
My aunt got kicked out of school
Left home hidden in bakkies
Was locked up alone
in dark cells
counting imaginary stars
For you
She lost her love
and buried her child
in an unnamed grave
For you
Even when you tried to kill her
She gave herself to you
Even when you abandoned her
across the oceans
She served you
in green and black
Fist-high, Proud
For you
So Forgive Me,
But I expect more from you

I remember when we finally saw your face My mother sang for you In long queues with
ID books and skhaftinas She signed for you Gave her voice to you Understood when

utata said it would take time With her last cents She supported you While he helped you
get on your feet She was beside him paying bills Because You were the dream They had

for us So if for no other reason, but For her, I expect more from you

More than you
who doesn't remember her name

who doesn't appreciate
that she still signs for you

Years later
neck-high in bond and car installments

struggling to buy groceries
Even after you took her husband

then hijacked his funeral
Even when you rub your theft in her face She prays For you Gives to you No longer

expects from you But I...
I expect more from you

More than a limping uncle
struggling to get your attention

Poor veteran holding on
to dreams conjured up in Lusaka
Still believing all those years away from home will pay off someday!
I expect more than uMakazi ononyanyayo
Because your taking never stops!

A lifetime later
struggling with hospital bills
while you flaunt Blue Label luxuries

in her face
And pretend you don't remember her
on your pedestals behind high walls

with tinted windows
I expect more from you

Because as much as you gave to us
We gave to You
ALWAYS
With our families,
and our limbs
and our children
We gave

For a dream you keep taking
From us!

With each cross you take
All we get are broken promises

cheap t-shirts
ooChomee on pot-bellied stages

long empty speeches!
We get raped by our fathers
Our homes are broken into
And STILL you take from us!

We have filled your stadia
We have sung your praises
We have devoted our lives to you

So DAMNIT

I EXPECT MORE FROM YOU!