Title      : Festive Poem                                                                                Poet      : Precious Mphogo

We were nine and ten

If I am not mistaken we were eleven or twelve

Now we are seven and eight

If am not mistaken we will be five and six

We are Mothers and Fathers

We are brothers and sisters

We are uncles and aunties

We are son and daughters

We are cousins and in-laws

We are lovers and friends

We are all dying

Dying killed by what we bought,

Killed by what we dreamed of as an achievement

Killed by what has been declared safer by the knowers

Killed by our monies and attitudes

This kind of death is unplanned, cruel & painful death

This is capable of taking you within minutes

This is capable of taking you in absence of the families

If you don’t watch out this death will take you with your friend and loved ones

This has left orphans, widows and widowers

This has left families divided in the name of witchcraft and jealousy

How heartless, ruthless, merciless and cruel death is

We died with pistol that we believe they will protect us from thugs and hijackers

We died with expensive perfumes that we believe they will protect us against the bad smells

We died with the bottles of expensive whiskies that we believe they are quality

We died with beautiful and expensive trendy clothing’s to be most distinguish amongst the others

If am not mistaken we will be five and six

Law breakers causes this death

Negligence cause this deaths

Egotism causes these deaths

Brake failure causes these deaths

Speeding causes these deaths

Frustration causes these deaths

We will die

Killed by catastrophe

Killed by our cars

Killed by their cars when they are jubjubing around

Kill them with our cars

Xaphela ARRIVE ALIVE

STAY SOBER, FIX YOUR BREAKES, SPEED KILLS, BE OBSERVENT, DO NOT DRINK AND WALK ON THE STREET, CROSS WHEN THE ROAD IS CLEAR & ARRIVE ALIVE