Bangs his fists on his belly when he’s ready to eat.
Pockets full of sex, bread, seashells, a button.
He wants to braai under the winter sky: R30 meat,
he got at the spaza shop near Amanzimtoti.
The air thick with smoke and sweat as he takes his seat,
grabs a drink, turns on the tv, and looks at me,
his eyes as hungry, full of that immanent heat,
as if there was more on the menu than mutton.
Charl Landsberg (them/their) is a South African poet, writer, musician, and artist. Their work often focusses on issues of social justice, love, science fiction and fantasy, and a few other things.