Read Me: Awful Truths

At the station Paton stares at me from the train bound for Johannesburg He leaves a note to remember to mop up where the roof leaks This is after the British take Achebe and I's gods away before sitting back down on their buttocks When I take their son in Taylor draws my black skin being thrashed by the wind I feel the kid burying me before the ship comes I resurrect, thanking Wendt for at least some power and glory before stupid maggots come and eat up my winnings Orwell hires me to feed his pigs when I'm broke I want to kill them when they stand up on two legs and talk back to me Smith and I meet at Catholic school and ditch Boys' Club together His brother catches him and I hide across the street as he gets a beating I run into Fitzsimmons who's looking for Les Darcy I tell him, 'I'm not his girl, go ask Winnie where he went' They make Ihimaera and I run errands at the family gathering I tell myself we're either cousins or enemies: don't fall for him That same night Huxley and I get high on soma He passes out on the beach and I run back home to sleep it off The stabbing wakes me up in time to tell Selby to go tahell He gets up in my face and tells me plainly to be honest with myself It's strange after that...just me and Bukowski waiting for a bus He puts up with me and I fall in love with the pungent smell of him.