EGOLI JUGGERNAUTS
Egoli buses -- Juggernauts of the tarmac
Scattering small fry far and wide
Speeding bus loads of black-
commuters - from city to country side.
Filled to the doorways, strap hanging passengers
Headed for Alex; northwards they ride
Work-weary, exhausted some of them snoozing
A frozen conglomerate thawing inside.
Smoke trails fogging following wagons
Cars and bikes rush, left and right
Grinding through traffic, snorting dragons
Louis raceways--- blazing with light.
No cowhide drums, shields or sjambock
amongst the buses weary flock,
long eschewed by these fashion sophisticates
robed in Western suits and frock.
Open the bridge into the terminus
red-eyed dragons roar to a stop
old and young, loud, articulate
People pour like peas from a pod.
Ebony river-like blacks, stream through the station
sensing scents and firs of home
Through ill-lit streets and gathering darkness
Speeding on homeward through the gloam.
Back at the bus stop green juggernauts are loading,
Folk off to friends, shebeens or to shop
Wide awake, ready for an evenings of freedom
"All aboard, grab a strap Egoli first stop.
by Hillie Feldman July1982 in Johannesburg
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