In Africa

Wanda Waterman

The African students gave each other hell

For buying things like hair removal gel,

Or coffee pods, or cereal bars, or Coke,

Or instant rice, or peppermint foot soak.

“How ya gonna find that back in Africa?”

They’d scold, as if it were the ultimate criterion.

And even now, when I desire to buy it,

Some new thing, just because I want to try it,

A voice sounds in my head, rich and harmonic — Ah,

But can you buy this thing in Africa?