Prisons Without Bars

Terwyl ek in die supermark na die gesigte om
My kyk, wonder ek hoeveel siele is soos myne in `n
Tronk sonder tralies – `n tronk van emosionele en verbale geweld.
Hoeveel voete in fyn skoene het ook weer die bewaarder met wie
Ons getroud is se landmyn afgetrap. Die tronk het nie deure vir
Privaatheid nie. Hoeveel vroue is daagliks blootgestel aan die hale
Van `n siele-verwrokker se tong. Ek bid vir almal in tronke,
Die met en sonder deure.

(Prisons without bars
I look around me at the faces in the supermarket
And wonder how many are souls like mine – in a prison without bars,
A prison of emotional and verbal violence.
How many fine-shod feet have also trod
The landmine laid by the prison guard we have married?
The prison doesn’t have doors for privacy.
How many women are daily tongue-lashed and stripped bare
By the destroyer of their souls?
I pray for everyone in prisons
Those with and without doors.)