No Sex Please, Were Under Cover

No sex please
were under cover
and not even British
though we are
in the Cape Colony

No sex please
were under cover
trying to make
a killing
so to speak

No sex please
were under cover
not much though
since we are posing
as sex workers

And so it goes
the usual stereotype
of you scantily clad
on the dark corner
your pimp nearby
ready to protect to

And so it goes
the usual stereotype
of you scantily clad
in the workplace
your union there
ready to protect to

And so it goes
the usual stereotype
of you scantily clad
moving up the ladder
in the corporate world

No sex please
were under cover

Are you

Police to pose as sex workers (Cape Argus, Wednesday, October 28 2009). Sigh.

No sex please, were under cover

No sex please
were under cover
specifically selected
to take to the streets

No sex please
were under cover
with attributes
that are conducive
to this kind of function

No sex please
were under cover
as you can see
from the shape
we are in

No sex please
were under cover
religiously trying
to clean up the streets
for empire and king

No sex please
were under cover
possibly even making
a little bit on the side
(of our minimum wage)

No sex please
were under cover
negotiating deals
like in the boardroom
(we are just commodities)

No sex please
were under cover
negotiating deals
like in the bedroom
(we are just commodities)

No sex please
were under cover
acting in good faith
our own not yours

Police to pose as sex workers (Cape Argus, Wednesday, October 28 2009). Sigh.

No sex please, were under cover

No sex please
were under cover
specifically selected
(sweating away)
to improve womens lives

Were under cover
to save the colony
to make it a better place
for the business of tourism
even footballers and fans

No sex please
were under cover
stereotypically clothed
for this exacting scheme
(of infringing a by-law)

No sex please
for these women
of the night (and day)
acting in good faith
morality-speaking

No sex please
were under cover
feeding our families
trafficking our children
off to fenced-off edifices
(in spite of school)

No sex please
were under cover
might you rather want
us to commit crime
and do corruption
(like various others)

Now theres something
you can get votes from

Police to pose as sex workers (Cape Argus, Wednesday, October 28 2009). Sigh.

• David Kapp, david_kapp@yahoo.com