(no subject)
We speed through the main strip
of an urban village near the border of Nigeria-
Abdou slows down
a little but never stops-
A young guy runs up
in the blazing midday sun
along the side of the quickly crawling
van and from a tiny tea pot,
pours strong stream of
bitter tea .like hot metal
into the little shot glass
that hangs like a mischievous
flower from the windowsill,
and all the time moving,
still moving, a coin falls
like a make it- or break it-
baseball, into the socket
of the young guy's palm,
the pearl of the encounter,
and Abdou knocks the tea back
like sweet medicine,
the exchange is done and
we speed up and keep on driving
with a new kick
in Abdou's sleepy afternoon
belly.
of an urban village near the border of Nigeria-
Abdou slows down
a little but never stops-
A young guy runs up
in the blazing midday sun
along the side of the quickly crawling
van and from a tiny tea pot,
pours strong stream of
bitter tea .like hot metal
into the little shot glass
that hangs like a mischievous
flower from the windowsill,
and all the time moving,
still moving, a coin falls
like a make it- or break it-
baseball, into the socket
of the young guy's palm,
the pearl of the encounter,
and Abdou knocks the tea back
like sweet medicine,
the exchange is done and
we speed up and keep on driving
with a new kick
in Abdou's sleepy afternoon
belly.