Ode to Potholes

O Pothole
Thou deep and sudden drop
That seeks to draw unwary wheels
into thy depths so dark
er...
that's about all I have for now.
The fascination you ask? Well, there's a curious phenomenon a-foot, or rather, a-wheel in South Africa.
Our new national treasury seems to include a love for potholes. Yes, our public works department seems to revere these little hiccups in the road of life. Simons Town is a prime spotting area for this not-so-rare phenomenon. You may be driving down the main road in happy oblivion as to the consistency of the tar when *thunk*, you encounter one of these beauties.
But do not despair, our public works department is on the job! At all hours of the day and night they can be seen near these modern miracles, carefully stamping down ground and loose gravel into these pits of despair.
Yes, you read it... ground and loose gravel. Now I ask you, what is the typical life expectancy of such (ha-ha) stop-gap measures? Not too long, I can guarantee you that. Within a day or so the wheels of industry and private motorists have started to dig away at these little patch-works.
And then there is Tokai, where potholes are not only welcomed, nay, they are treasured. As you drive towards the arboretum there are actual permanent roadsigns warning you of the presence of... you guessed it.... potholes.
I cannot help but wonder: how much time and effort does it cost to have a sign and pole made up, a hole dug and the warning sign firmly planted, compared to actually fixing the pothole itself?!?!?
South Africa.... it's a curious place