The world is a ghetto

The world is a ghetto

The world is a ghetto
right up your very street
softball on a world scale
in little Belthorn Estate
(the local stadium filled)

(A neighbour is aghast
at the non-coverage
of the 2-week-long event)

The world is a ghetto
Junior Women’s Softball
a first in South Africa
a first out Africa-way
here on the Cape Flats

The world is a ghetto
reportage in local papers
restricted to group areas past
(is media self-censorship at work)

World Championships
Young Women
International Guests

What additional tick-boxes
do bureaucrats require
post-16 days of activism
of no violence against women and children

No footballing galacticos here
spitting and cussing and
abusing women on the side
(it’s just not cricket)

(This little revolution
will not be televised
not newsworthy enough
for the evening news)

The world is a ghetto
The global village is here
Where are we????????

The morning after (after I had teased a few Canadian softballers about drinking Canada Dry), a neighbour and I have an “over the wall” tête-à-tête, 18 December 2011; me with War and George Benson’s old ditty “The World is a ghetto” in mind.