Though the small bar to the brim was full
Bar lady though laid-back was no fool
Measured she by experience
The gulps and guffaws of every imbiber
The subtle shout and suppressed cheer of every new comer
Notes and coins coined no confusion in her
White faces and voices effusing the Queen’s language were no daunting task
Sky-riding joy was still spreading in the nooks and crevices of the city centre
Yet this strange man buttering away in the corner on a modern type-writer?
The larger than life figure of a black man thumping and thumping and thudding away
Nonchalant to the presence of white supremacy
Eloquence in every sentence and nuance of the Queen’s language
On-lookers black and curiously bemused whites all askance
Never before had she encountered such manner of bar-room impudence
A scruffy looking man making books in a crowded bar room!
Dread-locked as well!
Wondered she what else was possible in uptown Harare
A new country and an array of brand new possibilities maybe
Some spreading some flying about like rootless kites on the rampage
Now that the white people were no-longer bosses to everyone everywhere in the nation
What else had also been rendered more possible than before she wondered
Obey Victor Chiyangwa is a writer, poet and Lecturer in Literature In English. Obey has contributed poetry to the Independent Newspaper, The Newshawks, The Queensdale Observer and other publications. Obey is also a regular blogger, businessman and social commentator. His poetry and short stories seek to provide humor, education, awareness, entertainment and socio-political, socio-economic insight to a society bogged down by the need to survive to the next meaningful meal, another hopeful morning.
The contributory author of Chronicles From Africa is also a professional editor and instructor in the penning of poetry, short stories, biographies and novella. He can be contacted on obeychiyangwa2018@gmail.com and on Facebook and @wekwachiyangwa blog.