where the girl has gone

even though I think she does

that each time there has been a loud GONG

and there have been three

since I arrived

everyone is taken

but she does not know where

only that they do not come back ever

and this time I believe her

that she once was

a sister and a daughter

and a lover

who often fished

with her beloved

and once netted

a snapper

so big

it capsized their canoe

and she and her dearest

ended up splashing each other

playing in the water

and forgetting

that they had lost dinner

and for the first time

in a dozen nights

I laugh

a little.

We all do.

DISTRACTION

My tooth has stopped

hurting, or

it has ached so long

that I am used to it, or

I am focused

on my present agony, or

the throbbing

inside my mouth

has been replaced

by the uncertainty

that awaits outside

this cell, or

my brain has been trapped

in a spiderweb

of normal distractions, like

a mosquito buzzing, like

the splinter of the sun

peeking through

the narrow, round hole

at the top of the stone wall, like

the caring of Owu,

who cannot hold down

the soppy food

they hand to us

once a day

on a wooden paddle

through the iron gate

that cages us.

THE HEALING

I give what little water

I am rationed

to Owu.

Drink, I say, this will help, not believing

that it actually will

since he can hardly lift

his head

or open his mouth

to even say

more than a few words.

Kofi, what happened to the goat? he mutters, the sweat swelling across his face.

He is fading, making no sense, Afua says, wiping his head.

No, I understand. There is a story about a talking goat, I say to her.

Ahh, I see. Stories can heal. Perhaps it may help him.

NIMDEE

We have demonstrated that our goat does indeed talk. Why not approve of their union, and let the two lovers become one, says the mother of the boy to be married.

Ei! You want us to give you our Ama for a goat that knows the weather?

Nimdee is a wise goat. There are many things he can teach you, show you.

We will see about that.

What is the question you will ask of him?

I am thinking. Do not rush me, kind sir, says the mother of the girl to be married.

…

…

The day grows long…

We have a question, Ama’s father says, after convoying with his wife.

Tell us.

It is a hard one. Are you sure you do not just want to pay us in cowries and timber?

Ask Nimdee, and see your question answered.

Very well, said the mother. We will like your Nimdee to tell us why there is so much evil in the world.

The son looked at his mother.

The mother looked at her husband.

The husband looked at their goat.