for fear of retribution,

which my maame thinks

is inevitable.

ADJOURNED

Near the end of the day

we hear the drum

signaling the verdict.

Commotion swells

outside our gates.

We rush to find

a crowd forming

as Lower’s King,

his chiefs and elders

march out of our village

in a fury

shaking their heads

spitting on our ground

and hauling accusations

at the elders

from Upper’s council.

THE DECISION

In accordance with

the Bambara Treaty

of 1787, and

the laws of

Upper Kwanta

and Lower Kwanta,

it has been decided

by the joint Council of Elders

in a vote of five to four

that the killing of Yaw Boateng

was neither an act of disrespect

nor a crime of magnitude,

and that it was a matter

of unfortunate accident,

and therefore no punishment

shall be enforced.

While Kwasi shall not be held negligent

of the death,

in order to keep the peace,

Upper will be fined

twenty-five Benda of gold,

five sheep,

and two goats

to be awarded to the King of Lower,

as apology.

So it is written, so it shall be.

THE ACCUSATIONS

You call this justice? It is wicked barbarity!

You Upper fools are blind and ignorant. That was no accident!

A slap on his wrist for murder!

To hell with your bloody apology!

You cannot exchange sheep for a life.

You disrespect him by not calling him Prince.

TWENTY-FIVE BENDA OF GOLD FOR A LIFE? Ei!

Do not think we will sit idly and accept your ruthless deeds! Be sure of that!

The heart never forgets what the eyes have seen!

The God we know does not reward evil.

Long live Lower. Down with Upper!

You have made your bed. I hope you are ready to sleep in it.

HEADS WILL ROLL!

HOPE

Papa insists that the King

and his men

are just angry

and their fury will subside

and they will get over it

soon enough

and the people will be fine—ours

and theirs.

HENRY VI, PART 3

To me, it seems

like the King of Lower

is as serious

as Margaret when

she stabbed Richard, the Duke of York,

and declared,

Off with his head.

I just hope that

chaos and revenge

do not cause suffering

because of these

ruthless deeds.

GATHERING

The thick smell

of tomato and onion

and smoked fish

is rich

in the air.

The feast

in our courtyard

to honor

my brother’s victory

and acquittal

is loud and delicious,

but

after Kwasi complains

of a stomachache,

Nana Mosi

prepares Kwasi a clove

to chew on,

and chamomile tea

that puts him to sleep

for the whole night,

and he misses

his own party.

BACK TO SCHOOL

The gong is rung

and we rush

to line up

outside the schoolroom

in rows of ten

for inspection.

Agoo! Mr. Phillip mutters, like the word itself disgusts him.

AME! we answer.

Ama’s friend Sanua

is sent home

for wearing beads

around her ankle.

Another mate, for not bowing