Summer In Karroodorp 1954

On the anvil that’s the dorp The noon-day sun beats down. So between twelve and two Life in the place is suspended. Doors to the stores are ‘toe’ And in their dusty windows cheap Mannequins sleep with open eyes. The air is still and heavy. So in the sparse foliage Of small pepper trees Feathered creatures perch, With beaks agape, And wings spread wide, Trying to beat the heat. At the door to the bar Of the ‘Royal’ Hotel, In a sliver of shade, A mastiff lies panting. Inside the trade is slow. Manne on barstools Nurse brandy-and-coke. House windows are closed. In the darkened interiors, Hidden from sight by Slatted wooden shutters, People flop on chairs, Avoid all movement, in Attempts to beat the heat. At two a slight sputter of life. It is ‘government’ employees Returning to work. The magistrate and two clerks Dawdle back to the court. The post-master and staff Re-enter the GPO. It’s still quiet at the ‘Royal’ Hotel. With no shoppers the doors Of the stores remain closed. Under the shade of pepper trees, Outside the shuttered Co-op, And alongside the ‘Prokureur’s, A bakkie and tractor are parked. The ‘garage’ is deserted Save for its two Caltex pumps. From all sun-baked surfaces. Hot, dry, and dusty air rises. So every now and then The wind-pump in my yard Creaks as it turns a little. In school classrooms Pupils slump on desks. Teachers no longer teach; “Lees jul voorgeskrewe boek.” Two-thirty! At last! The school-day’s over And also the worst of the heat. Now en masse Pupils scurry out, Head for home, then After something to eat It’s back for athletics On a grass-free track, or Tennis on concrete courts. Eventually the glowering sun Sends streaks of colour Across the western sky As it slowly dips out of sight. Then when twilight is over The moon is bright and bathes The town in silvery hues. By nine o’clock It’s cool and still Save for the flutter of moths Around the outside lights. And I lie on a bed Outside on the stoep With my dog at my feet.