|
|
|
leKhaxe the Limper, A sketch from urban South Africa |
|
|
|
Aug 26 11, 10:38
|
Group: Gold Member
Posts: 783
Joined: 24-July 07
From: South Africa
Member No.: 457
Real Name: Walter Schwim
Writer of: Poetry & Prose
Referred By:Mistral
|
The pretty young black girl at the hardware store smiled at me as I approached the till. Having only recently been weaned from crutches I still struggle to walk unaided. Amongst the items purchased was a new axe handle which I used as a temporary walking stick.
“Dumela leKhaxe” she greeted me, eyes twinkling with mirth, as she processed my order. (The x pronounced with a tongue click that is difficult for most Europeans to pronounce)
I was puzzled and asked her to explain. The reply inspired this piece.
leKhaxe the Limper (Typ. European pron ; le-cut chee; ) When leKhaxe the limper arrives, pick-handle walking stick thunking dust from the un-paved street, everyone recognises his shuffling gait and the hunched gorilla profile.
Suddenly the getto is unusually quiet but not deserted. Street urchins vanish, rags drawn over shanty windows. Rickety doors dragged shut. A mother tries to hush her niggling baby and scrawny dogs slink away without barking. They know!
Even here in Alexandra township, (The gangster capital of Jo’burg) his battered stick has never been required - for self-defence; (reputation has attended to that) Ominous dappled stains on once white wood tell a story none wish to hear. Knocking on your door is not the only purpose for which this pick-handle has been used. Well used.
leKhaxe the bull, is here. Too late to run, someone gets hurt today. He knows every name in the street – who lives where, who no-longer lives anywhere and he knows where to find you!
Some say he limps because his father beat him as a child others say his knee was broken by leKhaxe’s stick! Long ago.
Some say he smiles all the time because he likes his work; others allege it is due to a knife wound but no-one in any shebeen on the highveld ever claimed the glory.
leKhaxe the bat, whose eyes are flitting shadows which see behind him in the night and through the closed tin door of your shack. He sees where you hide and knows also where you put the money saved for your sick father’s funeral – under the mud floor.
After he has gone the busy streets return to normal, doors re-open and someone is sent to call for the ambulance. No-one will mention anything to the police.
In a small tin hut, a young wife weeps as her aging mother-in-law tries to comfort six hungry children.
The husband who lost his job will not work or walk for a very long time.
Tomorrow, leKhaxe the debt collector will be working for the loan-shark again - with a bit of luck, somewhere else.
-------------------------------------------------- (PS. there is also a rhyming version of this posted on herme's)
······· ·······
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 14 13, 02:03
|
Group: Gold Member
Posts: 399
Joined: 11-April 13
From: Australia - The great Southern Land
Member No.: 5,178
Real Name: Maureen Clifford
Writer of: Poetry
Referred By:arnfinn
|
Rather a chilling story with many twists and turns. Initially one feels sorry for leKhaxe with his broken leg, struggling to get around until one realises the menace and malice that emanates from him. Seems he got his come uppance though
A story well told IMO
Cheers
Maureen
······· ·······
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20 13, 01:23
|
Ornate Oracle
Group: Praetorian
Posts: 8,875
Joined: 27-August 04
From: Bariloche, Argentine Patagonia
Member No.: 78
Real Name: Sylvia Evelyn Maclagan
Writer of: Poetry & Prose
Referred By:David Ting
|
Dear Wally,
I'll come back here. I've just made 3 commentaries and my brain is SO dim now
Just wanted to tell you that IMO this is a great piece that merits several readings. Most interesting. The context is unusual, thanks for the intro.
Will try to get back asap. Still have personal problems, added to which my area of Buenos Aires had serious innundations that created havoc. Cars swept away or piled up like dominos. Big damages to my building, for which I have to pay my share until government help arrives (doubtful..).
Power outage for 3 days, only the phone worked. When electricity returned at under 200w, it wasn't enough for the elevators or the machine for pumping water up to the tanks. I live one flight up, so fetching buckets of water from the garage, at street level, wasn't TOO bad. Got some help
You mention that you've cast crutches aside. That's wonderful news, although I imagine that you still have to cope with other effects of your car accident. My very best wishes to you, Wally, may you be blessed in many ways.
Hugz, Syl*** (still remember the 'z'...LOL..)
······· ·······
Mis temas favoritos The Lord replied, my precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
"There is no life higher than the grasstops Or the hearts of sheep, and the wind Pours by like destiny, bending Everything in one direction."
Sylvia Plath, Crossing the Water, Wuthering Heights. Nominate a poem for the InterBoard Poetry Competition by taking into careful consideration those poems you feel would best represent Mosaic Musings. For details, click into the IBPC nomination forum. Did that poem just captivate you? Nominate it for the Faery award today! If perfection of form allured your muse, propose the Crown Jewels award. For more information, click here!MM Award Winner
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 26 13, 22:07
|
Mosaic Master
Group: Administrator
Posts: 18,892
Joined: 1-August 03
From: Massachusetts
Member No.: 2
Real Name: Lori Kanter
Writer of: Poetry & Prose
Referred By:Imhotep
|
Hi Wally, This is such an intense poem! I really enjoyed how you changed the image of the character for the reader. The intro: an unassuming (we think and then learn otherwise) man with a handicap and that walking stick. Then we get to it-the urban legend arrives, and even the gangsters go and hide! He knows all and enjoys putting the fear in others, among other things! I hope he stays far away from my door too! No nits this time - perhaps on the next read! Enjoyed the read. ~Cleo
······· ·······
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~ J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of the RingsCollaboration feeds innovation. In the spirit of workshopping, please revisit those threads you've critiqued to see if the author has incorporated your ideas, or requests further feedback from you. In addition, reciprocate with those who've responded to you in kind. "I believe it is the act of remembrance, long after our bones have turned to dust, to be the true essence of an afterlife." ~ Lorraine M. KanterNominate a poem for the InterBoard Poetry Competition by taking into careful consideration those poems you feel would best represent Mosaic Musings. For details, click into the IBPC nomination forum. Did that poem just captivate you? Nominate it for the Faery award today! If perfection of form allured your muse, propose the Crown Jewels award. For more information, click here! "Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up." ~ Early detection can save your life.MM Award Winner
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 27 13, 06:57
|
Creative Chieftain
Group: Centurion
Posts: 2,587
Joined: 9-August 03
From: Australia
Member No.: 17
Real Name: John
Writer of: Poetry
|
G'day Wally Well told--misery begets misery--begets tragedy= leKhaxe the Limper. An education,mate. My best friend is an expat from J'burg. Regards, John
······· ·······
|
|
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
|
Read our FLYERS - click below
Reference links provided to aid in fine-tuning
your writings. ENJOY!
|
|
|
|