12 Anxieties for April 12th

By LIESL JOBSON

 

On my side of the glass
POLICEMAN KILLS CAT
are burglar bars
on the other side
“DR DEATH” ACQUITTED
a grille
beyond that
15 KILLED IN TRAIN BLAZE
a high wall
glass shards
BOMB IN PRETORIA HIGH COURT CHAMBERS
protrude underneath
an electric alarmed
PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADMASTER MURDERED AT HOME
fence outside
a bullet-proofed
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR RAPED AND STABBED TO DEATH
vested security
guard protecting
POLICE PARALYSED BY VEHICLE SHORTAGE
my fragile
razor wire gated
MALL COLLAPSE: PLANS NOT APPROVED
community peace
seems a lot
FAMILY DRINKS POISONED WATER
of insecurity
and too much fear
COPS CRUSH BOY SUSPECT’S HEAD
to keep out
seems too much
HUMAN BONES IN POLICE CELL
more anxiety
too much heartache
MAYOR COMMITS SUICIDE
to keep in.

 

 

Liesl Jobson is a writer, photographer, and musician living in Cape Town.

Click here to purchase Issue 04

From the beginning, The Common has brought you transportive writing and exciting new voices. We are committed to supporting writers and maintaining free, unrestricted access to our website, but we can’t do it without you. Become an integral part of our global community of readers and writers by donating today. No amount is too small. Thank you!

12 Anxieties for April 12th

Related Posts

Image of a tomato seedling

Talks with the Besieged: Documentary Poetry from Occupied Ukraine  

ALEX AVERBUCH
Russians are already in Starobilsk / what nonsense / Dmytrovka and Zhukivka – who is there? / half a hundred bears went past in the / direction of Oleksiivka / write more clearly / what’s the situation in Novoaidar? / the bridge by café Natalie got blown up / according to unconfirmed reports

A Tour of America

MORIEL ROTHMAN-ZECHER
This afternoon I am well, thank you. / Walking down Main Street in Danville, KY. / The heavy wind so sensuous. / Last night I fell- / ated four different men back in / Philadelphia season lush and slippery / with time and leaves. / Keep your eyes to yourself, yid. / As a kid, I pledged only to engage / in onanism on special holidays.

cover for "True Mistakes" by Lena Moses-Schmitt

Giving the Poem a Body: Megan Pinto interviews Lena Moses-Schmitt

LENA MOSES-SCHMITT
I think sometimes movement can be used to show how thought is made manifest outside the body. And also just more generally: when you leave the house, when you are walking, your thoughts change because your environment changes, and your body is changing. Moving is a way of your consciousness interacting with the world.