Prescriptions by Sydney Clouts

For the unreflective,
pepperpots
to sneeze out ignorance or to at least exhaust it;
for the ethical,
tobaccosmoke; for fools, shipsirens
returning to the sun
some of its intensity.

Pampoen the Moon was gobbled up
O koud is die windjie en skraal.
The bitter stars
I’ve tasted them,
My backside is mos kaal.

For the ill-willed, oranges,
whose juice pities all;
for the spirit strict
as dust of Namib,
watercress wilder than purity and just as pure;
for justice
for justice
humaniores res humanae
bright as the day.