can i eat it mister politician
this manifesto of yours

how does it work
does it matter at all
to the nobody in the gutter
is it tax-deductible

can i eat it mister politician
this manifesto of yours

does it have any value
what is its status
is it just junk a jumble
of yet more promises

does it measure
the rate of my
casual contract work
begging soliciting
unemployment
housework

does it come all pre-wrapped
work-shopped and captured
from a portfolio committee
into a brown paper envelope
that politicians favour
their assorted favours in

can i eat it mister politician
this manifesto of yours

what about the rand-dollar exchange
(who is being sold by the pound)
where does it come from
where does it go so quickly
from my raggedy pocket

can i eat it mister politician
(I see you up a pole too)
why does it seem there are only
mister politicians and man-ifestoes
on this a man-ruined planet

long live in all official languages