Going to work that day
after the sunrise that morning wore, I saw a heap
on the street, and a crow, before commuters could
conquer the morning air. What a scene!
[See, in last year’s act the law encouraged
frisking corpses to extract all clues,
all evidence that’s good to share ;-]
Soon it was time when the cops came
[hurrah!] for the crow and I to go,
without aim if not to see that bloke buried somewhere.
I pulled from the crowd to leave and withdraw into myself,
shut out what I’d seen, grieve silently for that heap,
and send a prayer.
Then I caught the first buxi
into town, and managed to reach Maseru on time.
© Rethabile Masilo [more…]
Excuse my Yurpeen ignorance, but what is a ‘Buxi’? I’m guessing it’s something like a cross between a bus and a taxi? Could you help me by explaing please?
Comment by Stu Savory — 17 July 2006 @ 8:11 pm
The fact that you’re asking suggests in a compelling way that there’s no ignorance to speak of, Yurpeen or not. You’re absolutely right to wonder.
A buxi is my appellation of what in Kenya is termed a matatu. We have these mini-vans in Lesotho that we load up with passengers enough to threaten their seams. There are no stops, Lesotho buxis stop everywhere to pick up or drop any passenger. I’ve never understood how they calculate the fare.
Someone will yell, “Ak’u nt’sie hukung moo!” Or, “Drop me at the corner, will you?” And the buxi will do just that. Buxis aren’t taxis, because those are sedans and they take one passenger for a specific fare. Buxis aren’t buses because those have stops and specific fares. And buxi sizes are indeed between taxi and bus. So the word I settled on, as you rightly point out, is a portmanteau of taxi and bus. And you were right to wonder…
Comment by Rethabile Masilo — 17 July 2006 @ 8:26 pm
This doesn’t sound like the way I’d want to start my morning, but you’ve drawn a vivid picture. I love the accompanying crow.
Comment by TwilightSpider — 4 November 2006 @ 1:21 am
I hope this isn’t so common as to be considered normal. How sad.
Comment by annieelf — 5 November 2006 @ 2:11 am
TwilightSpider,
I suppose nobody would want to begin a day in this fashion. Cheers.
Comment by Rethabile Masilo — 5 November 2006 @ 7:24 am