ONCE A PROSTITUTE

That tune takes me back in time

Back when Musa Juma was in his prime

On the dance floor kung fu was the style to beat

Afro hair, mini skirt, rhumba......

Then life was fun, no HIV to evade

No crazy murderers, rapists, just money to be made

Pot-bellied-older men were still a fat prey

Better still if on the head there were traces of grey.

Back then boys in blue had no clue

We didn't have to vanish to dark alleys

In fear that they'd arrest, molest

And as fee for freedom explore our precious valleys.

End month was still a boom

Then, only the wily got the fat prize

Battle lines were drawn

Lucky were those whose thighs were brown.

That tune takes me back in time

When my dignity was up for grabs

When I had sank to the lowest of my lowest

When I could caress filth with no groves

When on the streets men carelessly roughed my chest

When the dignified woman I am today

Was no more than a rag;

Just an inglorious nobody.