CHINATOWN DADDY

my dad’s strength lies in his sophisticated use of tone and projection
the way white men fasten the middle button of their jackets when
they get up behind their desks and decide they are not going
to answer any more questions by the detective my dad gets his style from Blaxploitation films and
the invisible stature of a prison gangster

my dad follows the leftovers of the white man’s toxic masculinity
he is trauma’s experimental phase his
legacy is going to be: the mistress of white
masculinity always a bridesmaid for the bride of white patriarchy
his eyes remain sad as if the school teacher read out his marks in class

my dad is like a Roman Polanski surrounded by
old men smelling young blood
I turn round and ask et tu Dad?
his favourite place to go is Chinatown
because he relates to the fake wealth the shiny shit
burning your eyes and the smell of uselessness

CHINATOWN DADDY

CHINATOWN DADDY

my pa se strength lê in sy sophisticated use van tone en projeksie
die way wit mans hulle suit-baadjies se middelknoop vasmaak 
wanneer hulle opstaan agter hulle desks en besluit hulle gaan 
nou nie meer verder die detective se vrae antwoord nie 
my pa se style kry hy in Blaxploitation-films 
en die invisible stature van ’n tronkgangster

my pa volg die leftovers 
van die wit man se toxic masculinity 
hy is trauma se experimental phase 
sy legacy gaan wees: die mistress van wit manlikheid 
die always a-bridesmaid vir die bride van wit patriarchy 
sy oë bly sad asof die juffrou sy punte in die klas uitgelees het

my pa is soos ’n Roman Polanski 
omring met ou mans wat jong bloed ruik 
draai ek om en vra et tu Dad? 
sy favourite plek om na toe te gaan is Chinatown 
want hy relate met die fake wealth die shiny kak 
wat jou oë brand en die reuk van uselessness