Having to duck
And dive bullets
When coming to school
And going back home

Their lot in life
And not just
Out Lavender Hill way

Matrics there raise the bar
Showing progress
Despite the odds

(Despite too our navel-gazers
And the prophets of gloom)

There is
Matric merriment too
Out Mitchell’s Plain way
With two schools achieving
100% pass rates

How did they do it?
Given that after
Four years of schooling
78% of learners cannot
Read for meaning

Who made the difference?
The School Community
The Village Community
(After all it is said
It takes a village)

There is a BCom student
And a BAcc one there too

Are there future leaders there
Contributors to democracy
(Since they can read and write)

Or might they continue
To duck and dive