City Dweller

City Dweller

City Dweller

I sick and tired of city life
The same old smelly buses
With the same old people going to work
It’s not even worth it to stand for anyone anymore.

I am sick and tired of city life
The same old parties
With the same old guys huddled in corners
Puffing the same old fags
And telling the same old dirty jokes
And girls sitting somewhere drinking Coca Cola
There’s always some awful bloke to chat me up; how odious
Couples in the light of the flashing lights
Shaking their bodies to the sound of the disco,
In momentum, like puppets

I am sick and tired of city life
Canned foods, and frozen meats
Hurried luncheons in cafeterias
Sleeping in petrol queues
Queueing  for bread, queueing  for milk
And queuing for God knows what

I am sick and tired of city life
Of chasing away the rain
And guarding my purse from God knows thieves
Pushing and grabbing and cheating my friends
Why care about some wily old beggar
Why – let him stink in his crammy corner
I am sick and tired of city life
Of racing with the fashions:
hating my wardrobe,
        hating my hairstyle
        hating myself coz the adverts
            say I smell

I am sick and tired of city life
So says he.

I am sick and tired of city life
The same old dirty films
In the same old dirty cinemas
With the same old dirty attendants hanging around in dark corridors
One would think that life is one dirty struggle.

I am sick and tired of city life
Mama saying I shouldn’t speak to strangers in the street
Why who’s to guard me from sexual harassment
    – the same old dirty game
And dad’s voice warning me against samaritanism
    – It’s dangerous these days . . .
. . . I know it is!

I am sick and tired of city life –
This city life has got me tired
And so say  I.