Chapter 38
Horse Anthem
(In the Chieftain's village the Two Wives converse lazily from their coconut shells about the Women's Club in the mountain)
TWO WIVES
Our experiences are unusual.
Yes, together we came upon the Ladies Club...
We’re invited in...
And, somehow, get down onto the main floor
where the multitude of Ladies are discussing things.
Like the Horse that’s up on the walls
in all the horse pictures.
(They sit up and stare at each other strangely)
NARRATOR, about the Women's Club
The Horse is most important.
“Neighhh!” it goes,
and sends visible shudders
through all the women.
“Neighhh!” it goes,
and they rear up on their hind legs
and worship
(in some way - I’m not sure how yet?).
But, I see, suddenly they are risen to their feet
and looking upward,
their palms extended,
all their faces opened up, gleaming! -
hearing the heavy, weighty breath
through largish black nostrils
streaming out.
They’ve risen up and are singing
or chanting a rhythm: the rhythm
of the Horse Anthem -
with some voices of the high register
sounding above the monosyllabic undertow.
The low voices suggest a layer of the muddy ground.
The high, separated, piping voices above suggest
birds in flight.
LADIES CLUB SPEAKER
Our voices chanting below resemble
a thick layer of muddy ground encircling
our mountain.
Our voices of the higher register, sweetly
piping above, hover like hummingbirds.
Our chanting is the muddy ground,
our singing is the air above;
and here the mighty Horse’s hooves
come crashing down!
Over the muddy path
two hummingbirds float.
They rise up and speed along.
Soon, a gargantuan Horse arrives
and spills all the mud off to either side:
his hooves come crashing down,
his nostrils are a-flare,
in his eye is the vast universe!
We worship him now.
Above our thickening, earthy chant:
the spit and sweat the Horse flings around
and the high riding voices
like flowers around his neck.
We’re safe and secure inside our Mountain Club.
Chapter 39
Keeping Custody and Warding Off
NARRATOR
A dictionary definition:
‘to keep’ - to have by one in such manner that it shall not depart
(like the Chieftain keeps the Two Wives)
The sexy ladies, bedded down in coconut shell halves
lined with downy ostrich or pelican feathers;
are sound asleep.
Oh, the ugly snake comes along!
The psychic Witch Doctor intervenes and rescues!
The vigilant, watching out, looking after, assiduous,
perfectly keeping (care of) Witch Doctor hurries over
to stun or scare that snake who then goes off
toward the jungle common.
The hyper-vigilant Witch Doctor over on the
matting nearby is persuading, redirecting
and warding off the snake!
Witch Doctor: Part man and part woman.
Part leopard and part scary!
The Witch Doctor with images of berries
on his face: black bumble-berries.
And splots. Pink?
(End of Chapters 38 & 39)
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